It is asserted, that before the Muhammadans conquered Sind and these regions, the valley and desert belonged to Rajput princes of the Pramar and Solanki tribes; that the whole _thal_ (desert) was more or less inhabited, and the remains of old tanks and temples, notwithstanding the drifting of the sands, attest the fact. Tradition records a famine of twelve years’ duration during the time of Lakha Phulani, in the twelfth century, which depopulated the country, when the survivors of the _thal_ fled to the _kachhi_, or flats of the Sind. There are throughout still many oases or cultivated patches, designated by the local terms from the [332] indispensable element, water, which whether springs or rivulets, are called _wah_, _bah_, _beria_, _rar_, _tar_, prefixed by the tribe of those pasturing, whether Sodhas, Rajars, or Samaichas. The inhabitants of one hamlet will go as far as ten miles to cultivate a patch. Bhor (2 do.). ┐ These are all hamlets of about ten huts, inhabited Palri (3 do.). │ by Rajars, who cultivate patches of Rajar-ki-basti │ land or pasture their flocks of buffaloes, (2 do.). │ cows, camels, goats, amidst the _thal_; at Hamlet of Rajars │ each of these hamlets there are plenty of (2 do.). ┘ springs; at Rajar-ki-basti there is a pool called Mahadeo-ka-dah. (See p. 1263 above.) Deo Chandeswar Mahadeo (2 do.).—When the Sodha princes held sway in these regions, there was a town here, and a temple to Mahadeo, the ruins of which still exist, erected over a spring called Suraj kund, or fountain of the Sun. The Islamite destroyed the temple, and changed the name of the spring to Dinbawa, or ‘waters of the faith.’ The _kund_ is small, faced with brick, and has its margin planted with date trees and pomegranates, and a Mulla, or priest from Sind, resides there and receives tribute from the faithful. For twelve coss around this spot there are numerous springs of water, where the Rajars find pasture for their flocks, and patches to cultivate. Their huts are conical like the wigwams of the African, and formed by stakes tied at the apex and covered with grass and leaves, and often but a large blanket of camel’s hair stretched on stakes. Chandia-ki-basti (2 coss).—Hamlet inhabited by Muslims of the Chandia tribe, mendicants who subsist on the charity of the traveller. Rajar-ki-basti (2 do.). ┐ Purwas⓵, or hamlets of shepherds, Samaichas, Samaicha-ki-do (2 do.). │ Rajars, and others, who Rajar do. (1 do.). │ are all migratory, and shift with their Do. do. (2 do.). │ flocks as they consume the pastures. Do. do. (2 do.). │ There is plenty of water in this space Do. do. (2 do.). │ for all their wants, chiefly springs. Do. do. (2 do.). │ Do. do. (2 do.). ┘