BEYKANEER or BICANERE, a principality of Asia, situate in the north-west of Hindostan, the precise dimensions and limits of which are scarce ly ascertained by modern geographers. It extends from about 27° 40' north latitude to 29° 45', and from 72° 10' to 15' east longitude ; and its su perficial area probably amounts to about 17,000 square miles. It is bounded on the north by a country occupied by the Battles or people of' Batneer ; on the oast by the territories of Hurriana and Shekhawuttee, in the province of Delhi; on the south-east by Jey pour; on the south-west by Jesselmere ; and on the west by Bkhawulpoor. But these may be deemed obscure limits, for the countries named in them are scarcely better known than the subject of this ar ticle.
A vast proportion of the soil of Beykaneei is a barren, sandy desert, er a hard fiat clay, sounding like a board under horses' feet, and entirely destitute of inhabitants, water, and vegetation. Many miles are occupied in hills and valleys of loose heavy sand ; the former from 20 feet to 100 in height, shiftieg their position and altering their shape according to the in fluence of the wind ; and, during the heats of sum mer, clouds of moving sand threaten to overwhelm the traveller. Sometimes the phenomenon called mirage is exhibited in this desert, consisting of an optical illusion, whereby a spectator believes that he beholds a lake or a wide river well defined be fore him, reflecting surrounding objects, while there is nothing but a level uninterrupted surface in view.
Vegetation is exceedingly scanty throughout, ex cept in a few patches, which are skilfully and indus triously cultivated ; and the whole country seems to depend on external supplies of grain. Nevertheless, in the midst of arid tracts, the water-melon, a juicy fruit, grows in profusion, attaining the remarkable size of three or four feet in circumference, from a stalk no larger than that of the common melon. The seeds are sown by the natives, and also grow wild, but it is difficult to account for such an en largement of size with so little moisture. Water
seems to be obtained only at an immense depth ; the wells at Beykaneer are often from 300 to 345 feet deep, yet not above three feet in diameter; all are lined with masonry ; and one of the most curi ous objects in the city of Beykaneer, is considered to be a well 800 feet deep, and 15 or 20 in diameter, worked by four pair of oxen drawing as many buck ets of water. The water is always brackish, scanty, and insalubrious, and this, combined with the nature of the soil, principally occasions the prevalent steri lity of this country.
The wild ass, remarkable for its speed and its shyness, is found here, sometimes solitary, but often er in herds. At a kind of shuffling trot, peculiar to itself, it will leave the best horses behind. Ante lopes are seen in some parts, also foxes, smaller than those of Britain, and the desert rat is great num bers, occasioning serious inconvenience to equestri ans from the holes it makes where the ground is suf ficiently solid. Of domesticated animals, horses, bul locks, and camels, are in abundance ; the last kept in great herds for various purposes. The horses brought from the vicinity of the Lacky Jungle, an adjoin ing district, where they are reared on excellent pasture and with the strictest attention, are much prized. But the original breed was greatly improved by the introduction of fine Persian horses, brought hither during the successive invasions of Nindostan by Nadir Shah, and other eastern potentates. At pre sent they bear very high prices, some of them bring ing even L.250 Sterling, a large sum in a poor country. But some decrease in the extent and qua lity of the breed has lately resulted from the impo litic conduct of the officers of the Rajah of Bey kaneer, by whom the owners are compelled to sell them at an undervalue. When purchased thus, the horses are sent on speculation to different parts of the Indian peninsula.