KAJPCTS AND THE HISTORY OF KAJPUTANA. 



95 



vowed he would not part with his huge stores of grain until the 

 price in the market rose to a certain very high rate, and how 

 every one scoffed when, on the arrival of the longed-for hour, 

 and his grain pits were opened, it was found that the contents 

 were rotten, and the sanitary authority condemned them as being 

 nnfit for human consumption. So also a noble who lends 

 money at usury, like a Bauiya, is despised by his brethren, 

 while the liberality of another, not always wise though it may 

 be, is lauded to the skies. 



Some of the most beautiful illustrations of the care of the 

 Eajput princes for their people are to be found in Kajputana. 

 I refer to the wonderful artificial lakes which have been 

 formed by throwing across streams, as they emerge from the 

 hills through the passes, huge dams, some of which are 

 constructed of marble and are crowned with magnificent halls 

 and temples which have been usually dedicated to Vishnu the 

 preserving deity. The coffers of the chief and of his nobles 

 have been freely opened for such public works, and most 

 beautiful and useful are the results of such munificence. The 

 great dams at Deybar and Kankrauli in Meywar, with the 

 broad expanses of water behind them, are things to dwell for 

 ever in the memory, as also are many of the lesser works in the 

 capitals of many other states. It must not be forgotten, 

 moreover, that the magnificent and striking palaces of the chiefs 

 have led to the outlay of much money, thus supporting many 

 trades and occupations, and that a Rajput palace is not a 

 possession which is intended or used for the benefit of one man 

 or for a single caste. The palace includes the courts and 

 public offices to which all have access, and the Darbar Halls 

 are frequented by men of every class when the numerous 

 -darbars or receptions are held, of which there are at least a 

 dozen at most courts to commemorate some royal or religious 

 anniversary as the year rolls round. The great Bishop Heber, 

 in one of his letters writes as follows, " There are two palaces, 

 Amber and Jaipur, surpassing all which I have seen of the 

 Kremlin, or heard of the Alhambra ; a third, Jodhpur, is said to be 

 equal to either ; and the Jain temples of Abu, on the verge of 

 the western desert, are said to rank above them all." In 

 another place, he remarks that " For varied and picturesque 

 effect, for richness of carving, for wild beauty of situation, for 

 the number and romantic singularity of the apartments, and 

 the strangeness of finding such a building in such a place and 

 country, I am able to compare nothing with Amber." Fraser, 

 the Editor of Skinner's Memoirs, says, " India cannot produce 



