Trade and Commerce in Western Rajputana

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Geographical Backdrop. 3. Course of Trade. 4. Centres of Trade and Commerce. 5. Taxes and Duties. 6. Transport and Communication. 7. Currency and Coinage. 8. Prices and Wages, Weights and Measures. 9. In Retrospect. Bibliography.

Rajputana of nineteenth century included eighteen small kingdoms and two chief-ships besides the British district of Ajmer-Merwara. This land of princes was a barren terrain in general and its western segment covering States of Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer in particular and was incapable of yielding anything substantial and thus gave insignificant land revenue to the State coffers.

Therefore the State levied various taxes, cesses, transit duties etc. on goods passing through the States\' territories.

The traders also faced risk of plunder and highway robberies.The British interest in trade soon brought the native traders and the british traders in clash and rivalry old mart which were favourably inclined towards native traders were closed down and new marts were brought tilting the local economy.