ars.

[Sidenote: Area, 1431 sq. m.
Cultd area,
1069 sq. m.
Pop. 801,920;
45 p.c. M.
33 p.c. H.
22 p.c. S.
Land Rev.
Rs. 14,77,661
= L98,511.]

~Jalandhar District.~--Modern though the town of Jalandhar looks it was
the capital of a large Hindu kingdom, which included also Hoshyarpur,
Mandi, Suket, and Chamba, and in the ninth century was a rival of
Kashmir (page 160). The present district is with the exception of Simla
the smallest, and for its size the richest, in the province. It contains
four _tahsils_, Nawashahr, Phillaur, Jalandhar, and Nakodar. About 45
p.c. of the cultivation is protected by 28,000 wells. Behind the long
river frontage on the Sutlej is the Bet, divided by a high bank from the
more fertile uplands. The soil of the latter is generally an excellent
loam, but there is a good deal of sand in the west of the district. The
rainfall averages about 26 inches and the climate is healthy. The well
cultivation is the best in the Panjab. Between 1901 and 1911 the
population declined by 13 p.c. Jats and Arains, both excellent
cultivators, are the predominant tribes. British rule dates from 1846.

[Illustration: Fig. 95.]

[Sidenote: Area, 1452 sq. m.
Cultd area,
1143 sq. m.
Pop. 517,192;
40 p.c. S.
35 p.c. M
25 p.c. H.
Land Rev.
Rs. 11,57,399
= L77,160.]

~Ludhiana~ on the opposite bank of the Sutlej is also a very small
district. It consists of a river Bet and Uplands with generally speaking
a good loam soil. But there are very sandy outlying estates in the
Jangal Des surrounded by Patiala and Jind villages. There are three
_tahsils_, Samrala, Ludhiana, and Jagraon. Of the cultivated area 26
p.c. is irrigated, from wells (19) and from the Sirhind Canal (7). Wheat
and gram are the principal crops. Between 1901 and 1911 the population
fell from 673,097 to 517,192, the chief cause of decline being plague.

Sturdy hard-working Jats are the backbone of the peasantry. They furnish
many recruits to the Army. Ludhiana is a thriving town and an important
station on the N.W. Railway. Our connection with Ludhiana began in 1809,
and the district assumed practically its present shape in 1846 after the
first Sikh War.

[Illustration: Fig. 96.]

[Sidenote: Area, 4286 sq. m.
Cultd area,
3504 sq. m.
Pop. 959,657;
44 p.c. M.
29 p.c. H.
27 p.c. S.
Land Rev.
Rs. 11,79,924
= L78,661.]

~Ferozepore~ is a very large district. The Faridkot State nearly cuts it
in two. The northern division includes th