BHATTIANA  , a

tract of country in the Punjab province of India, covering the Ghaggar valley from Fatehabad in the district of Hissar to Bhatnair in Bikanir . It derives its name from the Bhattis, a wild Rajput clan, who held the country lying between Hariana, Bikanir and Bahawalpur . It skirts the borders of the great sandy desert, and only contains a small and scattered population . This tract was ravaged by Timur in his invasion of India; and in 1795 paid a nominal allegiance to George Thomas, the adventurer of Hariana . After the victories of Lord Lake in 1803 it passed with the rest of the Delhi territory under British rule, but was not settled until 181o . A district of Bhattiana was formed in 1837, but in 1858 it was merged in the Sirsa district, which was divided up in 1884 . The Bhattis number some 350,000, and are a fine tall race, making capital soldiers .