from 800 to 1000 feet in elevation, comprises a great portion of the Manbhum and Sinhbhum districts. The whole is about 14,000 square miles in extent, and forms the source of the Barakhar, Damodar, Kasai, Subanrekha, Baitaraui, Brahmani, Eb, and other rivers. Sell forests abound. The principal jungle products are timber, various kinds of medicinal fruits and herbs, lao, tasar silk, and mahud flowers, which are used as food by the wild tribes and also distilled into a strong country liquor. Coal exists in large quantities, but is at present only worked on a small scale on the Hazaribagh district. Formerly gold was washed from the sands iu the bed of the Subanrekha River, but the operations are now almost wholly abandoned. Iron- ores abound, together with good building stone. The popu lation in 1872 was 3,825,571, residing in 25,766 villages or townships and 752,287 houses. Of these the Hindus numbered 2,567,292, or 67 1 per cent. ; Muhammadans, 169,006, or 4 4 per cent. ; Christians, 15,798, or -4 per cent. ; persons of unspecified religion, 1,073,475, or 28*1 per c3iit. These last consist of non-Aryan tribes who were driven from the plains by the Hindus and took refuge in the mountain fastnesses of the Chutia Nagpur plateau. The principal of them are Kols, 292,036 in number; Santals, 220,096; Unions or Dhangars, 203,343; Mundas, 190,095; and Bhumij, 128,289. These tribes were formerly turbulent, and a source of trouble to the Muhammadan governors of Bengal and Behar ; but the introduction of British rule has secured peace and security, and the aboriginal races of Chutia Nagpur are now peaceful and orderly subjects. Of late years missionaries have worked hard among them, and several thousands of the Kols and Santals have accepted the Christian faith. Only six towns contain upwards of 5000 inhabitants, viz., Ranchi, 12,086; Hazaribagh, 11,050; Ichak, 8999; Chatra, 8818; Purulia, 5696; and Raghunathpur, 5380. The principal agricultural pro ducts are rice, Indian corn, pulses, oil-seeds and potatoes. A small quantity of tea is grown in Hazaribagh and Lohardaga districts. Lac and tasar silkcloth are largely manufactured. The revenue of the British portion of Chutia Nagpur in 1870 was 101,651, the expenditure 79,472. Of the total revenue the receipts from land amounted to 23,698. The police of the British districts consisted in 1872 of 1590 officers and men of the regular force, maintained at a cost of 31,131 ; 172 officers and men of the municipal police, costing 981 ; 15,104 men of the village watch, costing 17,592 ; the total strength being 16,866 officers and men, and the total cost 49,705. In 1872-73, the Educational Department inspected 571 schools attended by 15,871 pupils, and the total cost of Government for the education of the people was 2371.
The climate of Chutia Nagpur is dry and healthy.CHUTlÁ (CHOTÁ) NAGPUR TRIBUTARY STATES. These are seven in number, Sirguja, Udaipur, Jashpur, Gangpur, Bonai, Korid, and Chang Bhakar. At the decline of the Marhatta power in the early part of this century these estates came under British protection. They are now under the political superintendence of the commissioner of Chutia Nagpur, and the charge of them constitutes what is known as the South-West Frontier Agency Before the rise of the British power in India their chiefs exercised almost absolute sovereignty in their respective territories. The Rajds now pay a light tribute to the British Govern ment, and are invested with magisterial authority to punish offenders by fine not exceeding 5 or by imprisonment not exceeding two years. The states are mountainous, thinly cultivated, and inhabited for the most part by wild aboriginal tribes. They cover an area of 15,419 square miles, the largest states being Sirguja and Gangpur. Their aggregate population amounts to 405,980 souls, giving an average of 26 persons to the square mile. No towns exist in the Tributary Status, and only three villages contain more than 1000 inhabitants. The following is a brief description of each of the States:—
(1.) Sirguja, the largest, lies between 22 30 and 24 N. lat., and 82 35 and 84 10 E. long. It is bounded on the N. by the in dependent state of Rewa and the distriets of Mirzapur and Lohardaga, on the E. by the district of Lohardaga, on the S. by the Bilaspur district of the Central Provinces and the states of Udaipur and Jashpur, and on the W. by the state of Ivoria. It is very hilly, with elevated table-lands affording good pasturages, and cut up by numerous ravines. The rivers are the Kanhar, Rer, Mahan, Son, and Santch, the last being formerly known as the Diamond River. Hot springs exist in the state. Extensive sdl forests cover a large area, affording shelter to birds of wild ele phants, antelopes, bisons, buffaloes, and many sorts of deer, and 6103 Hindus 68,789, or 37 6 per cent. ; Muhammadans 1370, or 8 per cent. ; aborigines of the Dravidian stock 73,256, of the Kolarian stock 39,416, total 112,672, or 61 6 per cent. The principal agri cultural products are rice, Indian corn, and other inferior cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton ; the articles of export clarified butter, grain, oilseeds, lac, gums, jungle silk cocoons (tasar), &c. ; imports brass and pewter vessels, piece goods, and ornaments. The places of trade are Bisrampur, the capital of the state, Pratappur, and Jhilmili. The total revenue of the estates in Sirguja in possession of the different members of the chief s family is 7000 ; the rental of the personal estate of the Raja, 3000 ; the expenditure on adminis tration, 212. A small body of police is maintained by the R/ija, and he can at a short notice put himself at the head of 1000 lighting men. Sirguja pays a tribute of 189 to the British Government.
(2.) Udaipur lies between 22 3 and 22 50 N. lat., and 83 5 and 83 50 E. long,, and is bounded on the N. by the Mainpat plateau in Sirguja, on the E. by Jaslipur, on the S. by Rai- garh, and on the W. by Bilaspur in the Central Provinces. Country hilly, diversified with plains, and possessing one of the most extensive coal fields in India. Principal river, Maud. Area, 1051 square miles, of which 121 are cultivated. Population 27,708 : Hindus, 7351 ; Muhammadans, 118 ; aborigines, 20,239. Principal villages Rabkob, the capital, and Dorki. Exports cotton, resinous gums, oilseeds, rice, wild arrowroot, iron, and a small quantity of gold, obtained by washing. Udaipur came under the British protection in 1817, and now pays an annual tribute of 53.
(3.) Jashpur, the most populous of the states, lies between 22 20 and 23 15 N. lat, and 83 30 and 84 30 of E. long., and is bounded on the N, and E. by the district of Lohardaga, on the S. by the states of Gangpur and Udaipur, and on the W. by the state of Sirguja. The country is divided almost equally into high and low lands. The only river of importance is the Eb, in the bed of which diamonds are found, and from time immemorial its sands have been washed for gold. Jashpur iron, smelted by the Kols, is highly prized. Jungles of sal forests abound, harbouring elephants, bisons, and other wild beasts. Jungle products lac, silk-cocoons, and beeswax, which are exported. Area, 1947 square miles; population, 66,926: Hindus, 11,498; Muhammadans, 423; aborigines, 55,005. Principal villages Jashpur Nagar, the capital, and Sanoa. Agricultural products rice, barley, Indian corn, and other inferior crops, pulses, oilseeds, hemp, flax, &c. The Raja possesses an income of about 2000, and pays through the Sirguja state a tribute of 77, 10s. to the British Government. Jashpur came under the protection of the British Government in 1818.
(4.) Gangpur extends from 21 50 to 22 30 JS;. lat., and 85 10 to 85 40 of E. long., and is bounded on the N. by Lohardaga, district, E. by the Sinhbhum district, S. by Sambalpur and Bamra, and W. by Raigarh in the Central Provinces. The country is for the most part an undulating plain, broken by detached ranges of hills, one of which, the Mahavi ra range, possesses a very remarkable and imposing appearance, springing abruptly from the plain in an irregular wall of tilted and disrupted rock, with two flanking peaks. The rivers are the Eb and the Brahmam, formed here by the union of the Sankh and the Koel, both navigable by canoes. The Eb was formerly famous on account of diamonds found in its bed, and its sands are still explored for gold. One of the largest coal fields in India extends into the state. Jungle products lac, silk cocoons, catechu, and resin, which are exported. Wild ani malsbisons, buffaloes, tigers, panthers, leopards, hyenas, wolves, jackals, wild dogs, and many sorts of deer. Area, 2484 square miles ; population, 73,637, viz., Hindus, 28,192 ; Muhammadans, 231 ; aborigines, 45,214. Principal village, Suadi, the residence of the Raja. The soil is exceedingly fertile, yielding sugar cane, tobacco, rice, and other cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton. The chief enjoys a revenue of about 200, out of which he pays 50 as tribute to the British Government, the connection of which with the state dates from 1803.
