(1898-1911), managed their State with conspicuous
success. The present Raja, Amar Parkash, is 25 years of age. In the
second Afghan War in 1880, Sirmur sent a contingent to the frontier, and
the Sappers and Miners, which it keeps up for imperial service,
accompanied the Tirah Expedition of 1897.

[Sidenote: Area, 3216 sq. m.
Pop. 135,989.
Rev. 4 _lakhs_
= L26,700.]

~Chamba~ lies to the N. of Kangra from which it is divided by the
Dhauladhar (map, p. 284). The southern and northern parts of the State
are occupied respectively by the basins of the Ravi and the Chandrabhaga
or Chenab. Chamba is a region of lofty mountains with some fertile
valleys in the south and west. Only about one-nineteenth of the area is
cultivated. The snowy range of the Mid-Himalaya separates the Ravi
valley from that of the Chandrabhaga, and the great Zanskar chain with
its outliers occupies the territory beyond the Chenab, where the
rainfall is extremely small and Tibetan conditions prevail. The State
contains fine forests and excellent sport is to be got in its mountains.
There are five _wazarats_ or districts, Brahmaur or Barmaur, Chamba,
Bhattoyat, Chaura, and Pangi.

The authentic history of this Surajbansi Rajput principality goes back
to the seventh century. It came into the British sphere in 1846. During
part of the reign of Raja Sham Singh (1873-1904), the present Raja, Sir
Bhure Singh, K.C.S.I., C.I.E., administered the State as Wazir, filling
a difficult position with loyalty and honour. He is a Rajput gentleman
of the best type. The Raja owns the land of the State, but the people
have a permanent tenant right in cultivated land.

[Illustration: Fig. 124. Raja Sir Bhure Singh, K.C.S.I., C.I.E.]

~Simla Hill States.~--The Deputy Commissioner of Simla is political
officer with the title of Superintendent of nineteen, or, including the
tributaries of Bashahr, Keonthal, and Jubbal, of 28 states with a total
area of 6355 square miles, a population of 410,453, and revenues
amounting to a little over ten _lakhs_ (L66,000). The States vary in
size from the patch of four square miles ruled by the Thakur of Bija to
the 388r square miles included in Bashahr. Only four other States have
areas exceeding 125 square miles, namely, Bilaspur (448), Keonthal
(359), Jubbal (320), and Hindur or Nalagarh (256). Excluding feudatories
the revenues vary from Rs. 900 (or a little over L1 a week) in Mangal to
Rs. 190,000 (L12,666) in Bilaspur. The chiefs