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COL. T. HOLBEIN HENDLEY, C.I.E., ON THE 



of the Eajputs came, as tradition asserts they did, from beyond 

 the Himalayas, and then spread out on the easily conquerable 

 plains of the north of India, from which they were themselves 

 in turn evacuated by more disciplined conquerors, and that the 

 best of them then retired to lands which were better suited to 

 their martial instincts and modes of life, where finally they 

 fully established themselves, we may go on to ask why Rajputana 

 fulfilled the conditions which were necessary. The Rajputs were 

 brave, hardy, and above all extremely desirous of possessing 

 land which they could hold without being under the strict 

 direct rule of a supreme court. They were fond of the chase, in 

 which they could maintain their strength and learn the arts of 

 stratagem in peace, which, in early ages, were much the same 

 as in war ; while at the same time they did not lessen their 

 devotion to their tribal chiefs, whom they regarded as the 

 patriarchal heads of their families, whose interests were similar 

 to their own, whom they were always willing to acknowledge 

 and die for as the first amongst equals, the preservation of whose 

 rights was the same thing as preserving their own, but whom 

 under ordinary conditions it was wiser to keep at a distance. 

 A country studded with mountain ranges and isolated hills, 

 at the feet of which were many fertile valleys and plains, 

 admirably met all these and many other wants of such a people, 

 not only because it became easy to construct forts from which 

 the plains could be dominated, but on account of the alter- 

 nations of wood and cultivation, and the mountain streams 

 which furnished excellent cover and food for game. Moreover, 

 the extended cold season renewed the vigour of the men and 

 kept up their full powers, which enabled them, in days when 

 standing armies, and particularly infantry, were of little value, 

 but when personal courage counted for so much, not only to 

 hold their own, but to extend their possessions, or at least 

 to provide for their sons. It was not the aim, as it was 

 not the genius of the Rajput, to promote commerce, though 

 there are instances of great wealth having been obtained 

 under their protection in the more settled districts, as is 

 evidenced by the riches of the banker and merchants, especially 

 of the Jain sect, which enabled them to build such famous 

 shrines as those of Abu and Sadri, and to erect splendid 

 mansions in such out - of - the - w T ay places as Bikanir, 

 Jodhpore and Shekhawati, or huge temples at Mathura and 

 elsewhere. The usual position and history of a Rajput capital, 

 or of the home of any Rajput Thakur or noble, points to the 

 truth of my conclusions. Let us take for example the capitals 



