JAISALMIR or Jeysuhnir is the capital of the Rajput State of the same name, situated in a broad belt of low rocky ridges, lat. 26° 55' N., and long. 70° 57' E. It was founded in the year 1156 by Rawal Jaisal; Elphinstone says A.D. 720.
The State lies between lat. 5' and 28° 23' N., and between long. 62° 29' and 77° 15' E. It is almost entirely a sandy waste, forming part of what is called the 'Great Indian Desert.' A well, 32 miles south-east of the capital, is 490 feet deep. Rain-water is used for drinking purposes. The majority of the inhabitants are Yadu Bhatti Rajputs, who claim a very ancient lineage. The ruler of Jaisalmir is styled Maharawal, and holds his position as head of the Bhatti clan, The Maharawal has a force consisting of 651 infantry.
The castle of Jaisalmir is erected on an almost insulated peak, from 200 to 250 feet in height, a strong wall running round the crest of the bill. It has four gates, but very few cannon mounted.
Jaisalmir is separated on the north from Baha wulpur by the Great Desert, and is the modern name of the ancient Marusthali, the Desert of India. It is termed Mer in the traditional nomenclature of this region, from being a rocky (mer) oasis in the heart of the sandy desert. The greater part of Jaisalmir is t'hul or rue, both terms meaning a desert waste. From Lowar, on the Jodhpur frontier, to Kharra, the remote angle touching Sind, the country may be described as a con tinuous tract of arid sand, frequently rising into lofty tiba (sand-hills), in sonic parts covered with low jungle. This line, which nearly bisects Jaisal mir, is also the line of demarcation of positive sterility and comparative cultivation. To the north is one uniform and naked waste ; to the south are ridges of rock termed muggro, rue, and light soil. There is not a running stream throughout Jaisalmir ; but there are many tem porary lakes or salt marshes, termed sirr, formed by the collection of waters from the sand-hills, which are easily dammed in to prevent escape. The sirr last but a few months, though after a very severe monsoon they have been known to remain throughout the year. The Kanoad sirr extends from Kanoad to Mohungurh, covering a space of 18 miles, and in it some water remains throughout the year. When it overflows, a small
stream issues from the sirr, and pursues an easterly direction for 30 miles before it is ab sorbed. The salt which it produces is the pro perty of the crown, and adds something to the revenue. The country still dependent on the Rawal extends between lat. 26° 20' and 27° 50' N., and long. 70° 30' and 72° 30' E., though a small strip protrudes in the N.E. angle, as high as 28° 30'. The Yadu of Jaisalmir, who ruled Zabulisthan, and founded Ghazni, claim the Chaghtai as of their own Indu stock,—a claim which Colonel Tod deems worthy of credit. The first chief with whom the British Government entered into political relations was Maha Rawal Mulraj, who succeeded to power in 1762. In 1818, a treaty was concluded with Mulraj by which the State was guaranteed to his posterity, the chief was to be protected from serious in vasions and dangers to his State, provided the cause of quarrel was not ascribable to him, and was to act in subordinate co-operation to the British Government. No tribute was demanded from him. During the lifetime of Mulraj, who died in 1820, the State was virtually governed by his minister, Salim Singh, who put to death nearly all the relatives of the chief. The town of Jaisalmir was depopulated by his cruelty, the trade of the country was interrupted, and the relatives of the Maha Rawal who escaped death fled from the country. In 1844, after the con quest of Sind, the forts of Shagur, Gurseca, and Guttura, which had been wrested from Jaisalmir, were restored to that State. The forts were given over by Mir Ali Morad, by order of the British Government. In 1846, the widow of Guj Singh adopted Ranjit Singh, who, in 1862, received a formal sunnud guaranteeing the right of adoption ; he receives a salute of fifteen guns. The area of Jaisalmir is 12,252 square miles, the popula tion about 73,700, and the revenues Rs. 5,00,000. The military force of the State does not exceed a thousand men.
Copper mines are in the neighbourhood of Khetri, but, owing to the want of proper appliances for keeping down the water, the richest veins, which are lowest, cannot be reached.—Tod's Rajasthan, ii. p. 284 ; Treaties, etc.