RAJPITTANA, ritypU6-ill'ita. A division of British India consisting wholly of native States with the exception of the small enclave of Ajmere llerwara (q.v.), which is under British admin istration (Map: India. B 3). The division is bounded on the north by the Punjab. on the east by the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. on the southeast by the Central India Agency, and on the southwest and west by Bombay. Its total area is 127,541 square miles, or twice the sine of New England. Rajputana is divided into two distinct physical divisions by the .Aravalli Range, which crosses it from southwest to north east. The northwestern and much the larger part consists of sandy and arid wastes. It in cludes the Tar, or Great Desert of Northern India. The southeastern portion is much more elevated and watered by numerous streams flowing chiefly to the Jumna, the largest being the Chambal, or Chumbul. It contains large fertile tracts, but consists principally of rugged and rocky coun try covered with jungle. The climate in the main portion is very hot and dry, and the rainfall scanty and irregular.
Agriculture, including herding, is the principal occupation. Pulse, cereals, cotton, and other fibres are grown. The status of agriculture varies greatly with varying climatic conditions. The scant rainfall over the larger portion of the region renders the industry precarious, and there is liability to famines. Some commerce is carried
on with the surrounding regions. A railroad traverses Rajputana from northeast to southwest. Branch lines have been constructed by the agen cies of Bikanir, Jodhpur, and 1:daipur. The total population in 1901 was 9,723,301, the famines having caused a decrease of 2.267,203 during the. preceding decade. The population is composed mainly of Hindus, of whom there were 8,090, 209 in 1901. The Mohammedans numbered 924, 05G; the Animistics, 360,543; Jains, 342,595. The Christian religion has probably made less progress here than in any other portion of India, there having been in 1901 only 2840 Christians. Among the principal Rajput States are Bikanir, Jodhpur, Jaipur, .Alwar, Bhartpur, Jaisalmir, Udaipur, and Kotah. The most important city is Jaipur. Each of the 19 States which compose Rajputana has an autonomous government under its own chief. While the Rajput clans represent a very small minority of the population, the chiefs of sixteen of the States are of that tribe. The chiefs in two of the other States are Jats, and the head of the third is a Mohammedan. The whole is under British suzerainty.