OF BHARATAVAESA OR INDIA. 
75 
but Buddhism and Jainism were naturally more popular 
than any other foreign religion.^^ 
A considerable number of Bhars fiUs the post of village 
policemen, -while others are ploughmen, but the vast majority 
of this race are now in a miserable condition. 
In spite of the abilities they exhibit when suitably 
employed, and in spite of the reputation of their ancestors 
which has survived to this day, the descendants of the ancient 
rulers of the land have now lost nearly everything and are 
reduced to the most abject condition. 
The Mars, Mhdrs, Mahdrs, Mhairs or Mers. 
While speaking about the Mallas I availed myself, on pp. 
49 and 50, of the opportunity of introducing the Mahars or 
Mhars, whom I recognised as the people who had given their 
name to Mahdrdstra. But it was not to that country alone 
that the Mahars were confined, for they have always been 
occupants of Rajputana. The provinces which now go by the 
name of (Ajmere) Mhairwara and ( Jodhpiir) Marwar are their 
ancient home. " The Mair or 3Iera is," according to Colonel 
Tod, " the mountaineer of Eajpootana, and the coimtry he 
" inhabits is styled Mairioarra or the region of hills." These 
hillmen by and bye populated the plain and are also found 
there.^® They remained masters of the soil until they were 
ousted later on by victorious invaders. As chiefs and 
warriors, like other aboriginal tribes, they have a claim to be 
" owned, and the country was tliroiigliout peopled by these alone and by 
"no others." — Compare also the article "On the Bhar Kings of Eastern 
Oudh," by W. C. Benett, in the Indian Antiquai-y, vol. I, 1872, pp. 265 
and 266. 
Compare Bengal Asiatic Journal, vol. XLV, p. 303. 
See Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan by Lieutenant-Colonel James 
Tod, vol. I, 680. — The name of Mdrwdr is generally connected with Sanskrit 
maru, desert, mountain, rock. I believe this derivation to be wrong, 
though it gives a pretty good explanation of the diversified nature of the 
country, which is hilly in one part and arid in the other. 
