BEYKANEER, or BICANEER, one of the native states of Rajpootana in the N.W. of Hindustan, bounded on the north by the British district of Butteana; on the E. and S.E. by the native state of Shekawuttee; on the south by Joudpore; and on the west by Jessulmere and Bahawulpore. It extends from Lat. 27. 30. to 29. 55., and from Long. 72. 30. to 75. 40. and contains an area of 17,676 square miles, with a population of about half a million, consisting of Rajpoots and Jauts; the former being the rulers, the latter constituting the mass of the people.
A vast proportion of the soil of Beykaneer is a barren sandy desert, or a hard flat clay, sounding like a board under horses' feet, and entirely destitute of inhabitants, water, and vegetation. Hills and valleys of loose and heavy sand extend for many miles; the former, from twenty to a hundred feet in height, shifting their position and altering their shape according to the influence of the wind. During the heat of summer, clouds of moving sand threaten to overwhelm the traveller; and this desert sometimes exhibits the deceitful illusions of the mirage.
Vegetation is exceedingly scanty throughout, except in a few patches, which are skilfully and industriously 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 circum-
Beykaneer reference, from a stock 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 enlargement of size with so little moisture. There are no permanently running streams in Beykaneer. Water seems to be obtained only at an immense depth. The wells are often from 300 to 345 feet in depth, yet not above three in diameter; they are all lined with masonry; and one of the most curious objects in the city of Beykaneer is considered to be a well 300 feet deep, and fifteen or twenty in diameter, worked by four pairs of oxen drawing as many buckets of water. The water is always brackish, scanty, and unwholesome; and this, combined with the nature of the soil, principally occasions the prevalent sterility of the country.
The wild ass, remarkable for its speed and its shyness, is found here, sometimes solitary, but oftener in herds. At a kind of shuffling trot peculiar to itself, it will leave the best horses behind. Antelopes are seen in some parts; also foxes, but smaller than those of Britain; and the desert rat is found in great numbers, occasioning serious inconvenience to equestrians, from the holes it makes where the ground is sufficiently solid. Of domesticated animals, horses, bullocks, and camels, are abundant; the last being kept in great herds for various purposes. The horses brought from the vicinity of the Johur jungle, an adjoining district, where they are reared on excellent pasture and with the strictest attention, are much prized.
The only towns of importance are Beykaneer the capital of the province, and Churoo on the eastern frontier. Churoo, independent of the suburbs, is above a mile and a half in circuit, and although situated among sandhills has a handsome appearance. All the houses have terraces, and are built of a pure white limestone. Beykaneer is situated in a remarkably desolate tract. It is surrounded by lofty white walls, strengthened with numerous round towers crowned by battlements, and presents the imposing picture of a great and magnificent city in the midst of a wilderness. But on entering the gates the illusion vanishes; and it is found to consist, for the most part, of huts built of mud, and painted red. Nevertheless there are some high houses, several temples, and at one corner a lofty and fine-looking fortress, a quarter of a mile square, environed by a wall thirty feet high, and a good dry ditch. The interior is a confused assemblage of towers and battlements, overtopped by houses; and it contains the royal palace, a curious old edifice.
Beykaneer is governed by a rajah, who acknowledges the supremacy of the British government. His dominions were wrested chiefly from the Batties about the middle of the fifteenth century by a younger son of the rajah of Joudpore, who founded the principality. In the following century his successors appear among the feudatories of the Mogul emperors of Delhi, in which relative position they seem to have continued until the decay of the empire, when they recovered their independence. In 1799 George Thomas, a celebrated adventurer, who raised himself to the government of a neighbouring territory, invaded Beykaneer, and compelled the rajah to purchase peace with a tribute of L25,000. He also aided the Batties in expelling him from their country. More recently, a war having commenced between the rajahs of Joudpore and Jeypore, who were contending for the hand of an eastern princess, the interference of Soorat Sing of Beykaneer excited the wrath of some of the competitors against himself. Five different armies invaded Beykaneer in 1808, when the rajah filled up all the wells within ten miles of the walls of his capital. The contest was protracted for a considerable time, but the rajah succeeded in maintaining himself as an independent prince. His independence was finally secured to him by his being admitted, in 1818, within the line of British protection. The rajah maintains a military force of 3500 men, irrespective of the quotas furnished by his feudal chiefs, amount-
ing to 1500 horse. His revenues are returned at L65,000 per annum. Distance of Beykaneer N.W. from Calcutta 1175 miles. Lat. 28. N.; Long. 73. 22. E. (J. G. D.) (E. T.)