PUNJAB

DISTHIC'r GAZETTEERS,

VOLUME II.

HISSAR. DISTiliCT.

PAR1' A.

BY

P. J. F.A.GAN, I 0 S.

RI!:VIbkl> Ali'D BROUGHT Ul' TO DATE,

BY C M. KING, I C.S .

. COMPILED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORI:- OF THE PUNJAB GOVERN-MENT -======~~-----

LAHORE: PRI'lRajputs ...... ' 18- R1se of the Chauhan RaJputs ••• 19 The Mnsalroan invaston ...... 19 Re1gn of P1rth1 Raj Chauhan ...... ~0 Invasion of Mnhamad Ghori 20 Reign -of Ftroz--sha.h and founding of Fatehli.bad and H1ss8.r ••• •.. 20 Invasion of Tamerlane ,.. , .. ... 21 Sayyad and Lodt Dynasties ... •.. ... 22 Invasions of Babar and flamayun ...... 23 Reign of Akbar ... • , ... 23 The rtse of Xla Singh and ascendancy of the Sikhs 25 George Thomas .•• ...... 2'1 'l'he ad vent of Brtttsh rule ••• .. . ••• 29 Oond1 tion of the tract ••• .. . ••• 2\J Consolidation of Br1t1sh rule ...... :z The Mutiny .•...... : ... 33 The DivisiOns of the distrtct ... ••• 33 Encroachments of the Sikhs ... ••• ••• 3S The dispute with Pat1ala ... ••• 39 • Encroachments from Btkaner ...... •.• 42 Changes in the boundary of the district ... __... 43 List of Bnttsh Distru:V"OJliaers smns 1867 ~.:-~" c.-Population. _ Density ...... ••• ... 45 Density by tahsUs ••• ...... ••• 45 Towns .. . 46 V 1lla.ges ...... •... 46 Growth of -population ••• ••• • .. 46 Mtgra.tion .. . ••• •. . •... 4.9 Ages ...... ••• ~----~ - - ··· _.J)Lo Vtt&.lata.tiatica, Average birth rates, Average death rates 52 Sex.os ••• ••• .... ••• 53 11..

:CHAPTER 1,-DESCRIPTIVE-e~olqTJNUIID, C.-- Population--continued.

Subject. Page;

::Infa.nt mortali~y and birth~customs-llmdus-Mut~al· mans ••• ••• ...... • •• 54. Sex eta.tisttcs ...... •• , .. 56 Ox vll •condition ... •.. ~7 ·Customs connected wxth Bet.rotha.l and Marriages- HindUs ' ... •.. 58 Jileota ...... •... 59 The marriage ceramony ••• •.. ... 60 Jlfter ceremonxea ••• ... 61 Muk11wa...... 62 Marrxt~ge ceremonies among Bxshnofs ...... ·62 Dxtto Musalmans ••• 63 ' Kar~wa ... 64. Meaning of the ceremon-ies ... -· ... 65 Language-Hxndi, Bagri, PnnJabi, PaohMdi, othern ... ·6o Tribes and castes 69 Local distnbutwn of tribes and castes ... 159 Formor inhabitants. H1story of tribal colonisation ... 70 B8gn Jats ... •.. .;. . .. 71 Stkh Ja.ts ... •.. 71 Musalman Rajp1tt tribes ...... 71 timor t!tlmJ grant tnbes ... ••• 72 Noteworthy trtbes ...... 72 Abeils ...... • ... 72 Ah!rs ...... -. ••• 73 Aralns ...... 73 Aroraa ••• ...... 74.- Banyas, Aggarwals, Osw~la, Mahe~ris ... H Bawariyas ...... 76 BtshnOis ...... 77 Brahmans ...... 77 Chumars ••• ...... ~- 79 Chhitnbas ~ .. ... 80 Chnhras ...... - ...... 80 Dhanaks ... ••• ... &0 Dho'b[s ...... 80 Dogara ... ..• • •• ... 80 Fak1rs-Byrag[s-Oos:l:lns--Dacl4-panthls,-Jogis 80 GnJars •.• ...... 52 J&ts or Jats-Deswali, B.lgr•, S•kh, Mu~ahmiu-- - _ 82 -?rmclpal'"""tnbe" o£ lJeswali -and Ba•ri Jata ... 83 Prmc1pal tnbes of Stkh J ats o ...... 86 Musa.l.man J8ts ... ..• . •. 87 .Jhin.wara ...... 87 Jnlahaa ...... 87 Khatika 87 KumMrs ...... • •• 87 Lahars ... 88 Malis ...... 88 Mua•is and Bh:Hs ... 89 lJooh[s ...... '" ...... 89 1llaghalq ...... 8!1 iii

CHAPTER I.-DESCRIPTIVE-coNTINUED;. C.-Population-contmned. SnbJeat. Page;. Na.ia ... ••• ... 89• Pachadas ••• ·-••• ... 89• Pathans ...... 91 IlaJputs ...... 91 Pr1nc1pal RaJput Tnbes ...... or Barias ... 92 Bhattis ...... 92 Chan bans ...... 115 Jatus ...... 95· J01yas ...... 95 Mandahara ...... 06' Punwars ... ••• ...... 96 Raghbansis ...... 96 Rathora ... -· ...... 96- Satraolas ...... 96, Tunwars ... 9T Wattus J._ --'------~~...... ~- 'l" Rangre~ ...... 97~ Sansfs ...... - 97 Sayyads ...... 98· She1kha ...... 98 Sonars ...... -· ...... 98: Tarkhans or Khatls ·-~ .. ... 98- Talis ...... 98· Organization of tnbee and· castes ... ···-... 99· Social intercourse among tnbes and castes ... 101· Gharaoter and diapos1t10n ...... 101' .Tats ...... IOL RaJ puts ...... ·~ ... IOZ Pachhadaa ...... ' 102-" B1shno!.s ...... 102 Sikhs ...... 102 Bagr1 Jats ... ••• ...... 102" Moral character- ...... lOS· Leading Fam1lies 103· ...... ··~ History of Colc!nel Skinner ...... - 103 The Bbai of S1dhowa\ ...... 103 The S'ardar of Sliahzadpnr...... 107 Darbar!.a ...... 107 _n..ugt=-- ...... lOT Hindus and 1netr- secGa ~·--- 107 The Bishnoi Religion Ju ... - - ..• 110> Sult/in!.s ...... 1'13: N anak-panthis ... ••• ...... 113. S1khs ...... 1] 4t- Jains ...... 114.- Jain Sects ...... II& :Mand!.r-panth!.s- ... 115- Swetambaras ...... liS. D1gambarae ...... 116 Dhundia-panthis ...... ~ ... llo A rya SamliJ . .• ... ] 17 Musalm4ns and their seats ...... -- -117 c.irAPTJllRf.-DESORIPTIVE-coNCJtuDEDI c.-Population -eonoluded:

Page. Religion of the rnemal castes ...... llB- Chuhras ...... 119 V1llage dettJes and samta .. . 119 Superstillons ...... 121 Eccles1astJCal administration and Chr1st1au MlaBlons 122 Occupations ...... 124 Villages ... 124 Water supply ...... 125 Houses ...... 126 Furniture ...... 128 Jewels ...... H~ D1vzsions of tnlie ... 133 Dzvzsions of the day 135 Amusements .. 135 -FmrS>-fasts, noly places nnd shrines .. 136 Customs oonneated mth death, Hwdfrs, Musalmaus B1shnofs ... l3S. CHAPTER H.-ECONOMIC. A--Agriculture includmg lrr1gahon. Sozls .. 142 Sea~ons and ramfall 143 Agncultural yoar ••• . lH Irr1gatton, wells, depth o! wnter, method of irrtgahon 148 ConstructiOn of well~ ... 148 Kacha wells 14-9 Workmg of wells ... 149 Canal JE!lgatwn ... 149 The Weste1n Jnmna Canal ...... 150 The SnbiJld Canal ...... 152 The G haggar Canals ... )52 The Rang01 Channel ... 152 :Methods of canal 1rr1gatwn ... 152 Flow zrr1gatwn 158 Kfarfs ... 153 L1ft lrf!)?atwn ...... 153 Kund 1rr1gatton .. ~-- Cattle ... 155 Cattle disease ... 155 Buffaloes ...... 157 Cattle breedmg ... ]57 Cattle fairs ...... 158 159 Pn vate bulla ... OH ... Sheep and goats ...... 159 Horses and Mules ...... 160 Donkeys ...... 160 Camels .. ... 16& Ptgs and Poultry - ...... 160 The Cattle Farm ...... 16o Agr1cwtural Implements ...... 168 T

CRAPTER II -ECOi' A.-Agriculture including lrrJgation -cooclnded. SnbJIIa$, Page. Agrtenltural operattons ...... 1G4 Flongbwg and sowmg ... 1641 Weedmg , ...... ld6 Reapmg ...... 166 1'hresbtng ...... 167 Meaanrmg 1tl7 :Manure 11.>8 RotatiOn of cropa .. ••• 168 Area. culttvated per plough or well ... 171 Coat of oultivatwn ...... 171 Prmctpal Staples .. , 171 Untrrtgated Kharif Crops-BaJra, Jawe.r, Moth and Mnng-Gwar ... • .. 171: Flooded crops-Rice ...... l7Z lrrtga~ed crops-Cotton, Charrt, Pepper .. . 173 "Umrrigated ltabt crops-Gram,Ha.rley, Sarson · ... 174 Rabt on flooded landa ... ,,. 175 Irrigated canal Jande ... •.. 175 Tobacco ••. .,. 1715 Average y teld . , . ... •.. 176 Sales and mortgages of land ••• ... 177 Indebtedness .. .. , .. 178 Loans under the Land Impro'i'ement Laa!ls and Agncul- turiats Loans Acts .. ... ••• 178 B.-Rents, Wages and Pr1ces. Ren~a ...... 179 Prwas .•• ... lbO Agncultural Labourers ·-...... 180 Petty vtllage grantees ...... 181 V•lla.ge men1ala ... "...... 181 Kbati ... • •• 181 N&t •• ...... 1~1 Lobar ...... 181 Kumh6.1' ...... 182 Cbamar ...... 182 Chuhras and DMnaks ...... 1B2 Vlllage B&nya ••• ... •.. ... 182 Wages ... . .• • •• 183 Measnree, length, area, weight and volum& ... 183 C -Forests. B.tss&l" Bfl' ••• 185 Arbor10ultnre ...... 185 D.-Mines and Mineral Resources. :Kankar ...... ~.. 185 Shora ...... 186 E.-Arts and Manufactures. ,...... Hanel indus tries ...... ••• 186 Fac~ory ind11stries ...... 186 Mis~~~~o~ manufa~tures ...... 18& vii

~~ - . - CDHAPTER II.-ECONOMIC'-CoNCLUDED• F-Commerce-and· Trade' Subject;• FagtJ .. • . 187 Glommercial classes ...... Trade oentrlls .. .) ... , 188· ' G.-Means or communication. Ra1l way& ... , ••• ... ll\9• Roads .w• .... .~ ••• ... 190· N av1gable Canale a.nd W a..tl)rways-Ferries. " - , ... 191 Foetal arrangements 1: , ...... 192 - H-Famines. . 193- Famines. 1 ••• ~ , ••• ... Ban Chalisll ... • •• ...... 193- Famine of 1860-61 •••. '...... 194. 1869-70 ...... 196· " 189Fi-9'T· • • ; •• ' . - ... ' 202; ..." 169d900 ••• • .. ... ' 204. - . ' CHAPTER III.-A.DMINISTllATlVE, A.-.Mministralive Divisions. , Geneul ...... 206 • j ! .i TahsilPJ ,~. •.. ,••• ... 2117: Tbaua.s or Police Station jurisdictions.' ... ,, ••• 207 Zails ... ••• ~ ...... ' · ... - ... 207: Lamb11rd!trs ..; ...... 207'

Grades of Zaildars L - ••• 208· ' ... Chaukidars _ ••• ... • •• . 208- Ea.twat{s -.._ .... - ...... _ ... 208 Bouorary Magistrates ... .. 2.09· B.~Criminal and Civil Jus lice. Cattle theft ...... ••• • •• 209 L1t1gionsness of Jit tribes· - ••• ' ' ••• . .. 210· Crimes generally · ...... 210• Crimmal tribes · ...... ' ··-...... 210· Local bar, eto...... 211 I r • , C·-L'and--Revenue· · · ~ ..__ - - - J.~ ~-- -- Village and Proprietary-Tenures - --~ - ;;; - • ·211' The four Southern Tab.sfls - •. .- ~ -·-:,.. __ --... - ~2ll State of landed rights before the san cT•alua ... 211• Effee ts of the famzne - . ... •.. ... :!12 Bnhsb rule ... .•• .. ••• ... 2131 Orfgin of zam!ndari ancl pattldari tenures ·-· 213 Or1gin of bhayachara tenures ..... 1.>~ ·-••• - - 214- The Ohaubacha ... • .. _ ... 214. New· settlers, kid£m hrsan ... 215· Boladc:ir1 ••• ••• ••• ... • 215· Ind1 vid ua.llanded r1ghts •• ...... 216 - 216. Effe~t... o~ F1rst- J;'tegular..... Settlement- ..... --- of·-- 1840-~l .. ~ .. 'Vll

'C:S:Al'TER 11!.-ADMIN !STRATI V E-coNTINUltb. C.-Land Revenue-conttnued.

.Subject, Pag

villages ...... # ••• • •• 229 Tenants tn bhRohtak vtllages ... •.. ... 258 The Second He vised Settlement ...... 259 Standard of assessment ...... 259 Rents ...... ••• ... 259 Half nett assets est1mata •.• ...... 261 ma'PTER IIT.-A DMINISTRATITE-coNfiNtll!lD. C-Lal'\d Revenue -continued.

Subject, Page. :Assessment Circles ...... 261 Waste area 261 WeliJrrJgation ...... 262 Treatment of well-irr1gated land .. 262 Assessment by Tah~!l• and Circles : Bhtwani Tahsil ,, .263 Eastern Haruina ... • .. ... 263 ""'estern H aruina ...... 204. Amram Bagnr .. , ... 265 Babal-SIWam Eagar ...... 26i S11van1 Bagar ... 266 Tab>il H v.ns1 ... 266 Eastern Banana ... 266 Western Haruina ...... 267 Canal Haruina ...... 268 Canal Assessment ...... 26S B1sear Tahsil ...... 269 Bagar On cla ...... ll70 W·estern Harw.na ,, ~ .. 270 Eastern Haru~na ... 271 Bar1ana tract of the old Barwi\la Tahsil .. 271 •Canal Banana ...... 272 Tahsil Fatehabad •• ...... 273 Western Bagar ...... 273 Eastern B~gar ...... 1114 B annna thrde ... 274. Fateh6.b.ld N:ilt Ktrani ...... 275 Tohana (Bat w:

Page, J>rznc•ples uf Regular Settlement ...... 1Z89 Results ... ••• ... 289 Worktng of Settlement ...... 290 Revtston of Settlamen t ... 291 Standard of assessment ...... 291 Basta of assessment ... 21}1 Assessment czrcles ...... 21)1 The work•ng of the Revised Settlement ... 29S Bagar Ctrole .. . 2941 ll.oh1 Otr cle .. , ...... 295 N:ilt Cucle ...... 296 FJuctuatzng assessment , • ... • 2116 F1xed assessment . ••• .. ... 297 Schedule of occup1ers' rates on the Ohaggar Canale ... 291 Penod of assessment 298 Total assessment of Distr1ct m 1903-04 288 Canal Re"l'enue-OwDers' rate ...... 298 Schedule of occup1ers' rates ...... 30() Western Jumna Canal ••• ... 300 S1rh1nd Canal ...... 301 Asszgnments of land 1 evenue, J iigfrs ...... 392 Other ass1gnments •• .. .. . ao2 D.-Miscellaneous Revenue. Excise ...... ••• 303 Drugs ...... 803 Op1um ...... ••• ... 303 Salt ...... 308 Income-tax ...... 303 Ceases ... ••• .. . 303 E -Local and Municipal Government. The D1strict Board ...... 304o Mll.DlCipal Towns-Hissar, Hansi, Bb1wani, S,rsa ••• 806 Not1fied area.s-Fatehabad, Budhlada and Tohana ... 805 F.-Public Works. Organisation of the Public Works Department-Canals 305 S06 Ratlways ...... •u • ._ Roads and buildings ... . •· ... 305

G-Army. ... 305 Military D•str1ot Volunteers ...... 806 Recrn1tlllg ...... ••• H.-Police and Jails. ... 307 Pohee ...... 308 Ja1l ...... CHAPTER JII.-ADNJNISTRATIVE-coNcLuD.&B, j ~ 'f t • ' l ~ 1.-Education and.Lit~rac_y. ; Subject, Pag&. Literacy of the people ...... 308 30!( , Scripts employed .::· .. . ~· ... ,lndtgenous system of education ... • •• 310 .l!.ducahonal system· • ••• ...... 311 ;Schools in' the Dtstriot ... ~· ... 311 N ewspap~;s _...... •.'· ... 312 .J -Medical· )Jir< r ~~~I Die:penaaries ...... "··t· r..-. •• 312 . Dtspensq,ry staff ···~ r.,...... •• 313 ,.. ... ~ D lBpensar.y WOr k ,.... . rJ.l.: ,-., .-., 313 . .Santtahou •.,...... • .• 813 Dratilaga ... ,,, ... . .• 313 CHAPTER. . IV.-PLACES OF INTEREST .. · Htssar Town-Deso,~;1pHo~ ...... 314. Anttqntties "'· ...... 314 "Trade ._ _, ... ••• ... 317 Iristitutions •••• .. ' 317 Banst Town-Description ...... 317 H1story~> .a .... ,.. ... , ... 318 Antiqutttes -· ...... 318 'Trade ...... 318 Pnbhc Bnildings ,,, ' . . m -...... 318 . Ehtwani.Town-Description ,., ••• ... 320 "' d ... > . !l.ra e . . ... ••• · •••' ... 321 lnstitutJ,O:QS ana Pn'blic Buildings ...... 3H Sn·sa Town-Historf :. ; ...... -322 Anttqutttes .. ; ••• ...... -323 c Populatip;n ' ..·, ' • ... 323 Pubhc Buildings and InstitutiOns .... 323 3L3 Ranta • - .. - ~·t· .. - y ••• ·-·· Fateba.bad-Description • - .••• ~... - ... 823 History ...... r- ...... 824. ·Trade ~ '''~ ...... 32! ' InetJtntions ... ••• ...... 325 Anttquittes ...... 325 Tueham ,...... ' ... 325 Agroha~t .•• •... . -...... 325 Tohana- ...... 326 Badhl.ida 32~ ' ...... ""