naturally deep water level. The
former receives irrigation from the Sirsa, and the latter from the
Hansi, branch of the Western Jamna Canal. The outlying tracts to the
south of Rohtak and Gurgaon, acquired after the Mutiny, are part of the
dry sandy Rajputana desert, in which the _Kharif_ is the chief harvest,
and the millets and gram the principal crops. In addition Patiala has an
area of 294 square miles of territory immediately below and in the Simla
Hills. The territory of the Phulkian States is scattered and intermixed,
and they have islands in British districts and _vice versa_, a natural
result of their historic origin and development.

[Illustration: Fig. 116. Maharaja of Patiala.]

Phul was the sixth in descent from Baryam, a Sidhu Jat, to whom Babar
gave the _Chaudhrayat_ of the wild territory to the south-west of Delhi,
making him in effect a Lord of the Marches.

_Tree showing relationship of the three Houses_.

Phul
|
+-------+-------------+
Tiloka Rama
+------+------+ |
Gurditta Sukhchen Raja Ala Singh
| | of Patiala
| |
Suratya Raja Gajpat Singh
| of Jind
|
Raja Hamir Singh
of Nabha

The century and more which elapsed between the grant and Phul's death in
1652 were filled with continual fighting with the Bhattis. Phul's second
son Rama obtained from the Governor of Sirhind the _Chaudhrayat_ of the
Jangal Des. When Ahmad Shah defeated the Sikhs near Barnala in 1762,
Rama's son, Ala Singh, was one of his prisoners. He was a chief of such
importance that his conqueror gave him the title of Raja and the right
to coin money. But Ala Singh found it prudent to join next year in the
capture of Sirhind. From the division of territory which followed the
separate existence of the Phulkian States begins. The manner in which
they came in 1809 under British protection has already been related. The
Raja of Patiala was our ally in the Gurkha War in 1814, and received the
Pinjaur _tahsil_. The active loyalty displayed in 1857 was suitably
rewarded by accessions of territory. The right of adoption was
conferred, and special arrangements made to prevent lapse, if
nevertheless the line in any state failed.

[Sidenote: Area, 5412 sq. m.
Cultd area,
4515 sq. m.
Pop. 1,407,659;
40 p.c. H.
38 p.c. S.
22 p.c. M.
Rev.
Rs. 82,00,000
=L546,666.]

~Patial