TRADE AND COMMERCE IN WESTERN RAJPUTANA BY DR. HARI SHANKAR SHARMA [HARDCOVER]

The four princely States of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Sirohi altogether covered more than half the total area' and over one-fourth of total population of Rajputana in 1901 A.D. which comprised 18 princely States, two chiefships and the British territory of Ajmer-Merwara: three of these, namely, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer constituted its entire north-western border stretching from Punjab in the north and north-east to Bahawalpur State and Sindh on the north-west and west respectively. ³

In area, Jodhpur was the largest of all the States of Rajputana and its boundary touched' nine adjoining principalities including Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Sirohi besides the British territory of Ajmer-Merwara. On the north, it was bounded by Bikaner; on the north-west by Jaisalmer; on the west by Thar and Parkar districts of Sindh, on the south-west by the Rann of Cutch; on the south by Palanpur and Sirohi, on the south-east by Udaipur, on the east by the British territory of Ajmer-Merwara, and by Kishangarh; and on the north-east by Jaipur.

Bikaner was the second largest State in Rajputana forming its northern most boundary. It was bounded' by Bahawalpur on the north-west; by Jaisalmer on the west, by Jodhpur on the south; by Shekhawati district of Jaipur on the south-east; by Loharu and Hissar on the east, and by Firozepur on the north-east.

Jaisalmer was the third largest State and was bounded by Bahawalpur on the north; by Shikarpur district of Sindh and by Khairpur on the west; by Jodhpur on south-east and by Bikaner on the cast.

Sirohi, which ranked" eleventh in area among the various States of Rajputana, was bounded" by Jodhpur on three sides, namely, north-cast, north and north-west; by Palanpur and Danta on the south; by Idar on the south-east; and by Udaipur on the cast.