Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 14.djvu/73

 K H E K H E 61 KHELAT, the capital of Baluchistan, and the residence of the reigning khan, is situated, at an elevation of 6800 feet above the sea, in 29 N. lat., and 66 40 E. long., in a narrow valley, which is bounded to the east by the mountain ranges extending to the province of Catch Gundava ; to the west is the Sha Mirclan, on the northern slope of which hill the town is built; to the south the valley is closed by low hills, while to the north it is of sufficient breadtli to allow space for two or three small villages. Through the centre of this valley runs a mountain torrent, which is generally dry, but after heavy rain pours down a considerable body of water. The town is surrounded by a mud wall about 30 feet in height, which is pierced by three gateways. The houses are built of mud, and number from three to four hundred; the streets are narrow and tortuous; it possesses a tolerably well supplied bazaar. A miri or citadel, having an imposing appearance, dominates the town, and contains within its walls the palace of the khan. It was in an upper room of this residence that I Merab Khan, then ruler of Baluchistan, was killed during ! the storming of the town and citadel by the British troops I at the close of the first Afghan war in 1839. The suburbs of Khelat are comparatively extensive, and contain from 10,000 to 12,000 inhabitants, which number, however, fluctuates according to the season, as well as with the political events passing in the country. There are to be found both in the town and suburbs residents representing many of the countries of Asia, viz., Hindus, Brahoes, Dehwars, Babe, Afghans, Persians, and Baluchis. The Hindu community forms the principal trading class, a fair proportion of which, however, includes the Babe tribe, while agriculture is almost entirely in the hands of the Dehwar tribe. The town is well supplied with excellent water, principally from a spring situated in the eastern side of the valley ; this water is also used for irrigating the numerous enclosed gardens studded about, in which are grown most of the fruit trees to be found in European climates, including the vine, apricot, apple, and mulberry ; vegetables of all descriptions thrive to perfection. The climate of Khelat is peculiarly dry and pure, nor is there heat during the summer months that can be called oppres sive. The citadel, although offering an imposing appear ance, has in reality no military value, and could offer no resistance to the artillery in use at the present day. It is quite impossible to give an idea of the period of the building of Khelat, though there can be no doubt that it is of very ancient origin, long prior to the Mohammedan era ; but, as political events have now brought England into close friendly relations with the Baluch state, we may look forward to the unravelling of many traditions which now surround and obscure the history of Baluchistan and its capital. KHERf, a district of Ouclh, India, lying between 27 41 and 28 42 N. lat., and 80 4 30&quot; and 81 23 E. long., bounded on the X. by the river Mohan, separating it from Nepal, E. by the Kauriala river, separating it from Bharaich district, S. by Sitapur district, and W. by Shuhjahanpur district in the North-Western Provinces, with an area of 2963 square miles. Kheri district consists of a series of fairly elevated plateaus, separated by rivers flowing from the north-west, each of which is bordered by a belt of alluvial land. The rivers are, commencing from the east, the Kauriala, Suheli, Dahawar, Chaukn, Ul, Jamwari, Kathna, Gumti, and Sukheta. North of the Ul, the country is considered very unhealthy. This tract probably formed in ancient times the bed of a lake, through which flow two rivers, the Kauriala and Chauka, changing their courses constantly, so that the whole surface is seamed with deserted river beds much below the level of the surrounding country. The vegetation is very dense, and the stagnant waters are the cause of endemic fevers. The people reside in the neighbourhood of the low ground, as the soil is more fertile and less expensive to cultivate than the forest- covered uplands. South of the Ul, the scene changes. Between every two rivers or tributaries stretches a plain, considerably less elevated than the tract to the north. There is very little slope in any of these plains for many miles, and marshes are formed, from which emerge the head-waters of many secondary streams, which in the rains become dangerous torrents, and frequently cause devastat ing floods. The general drainage of the country is from north-west to south-east. Several large lakes exist, some formed by the ancient channels of the northern rivers being fine sheets of water, from 10 to 20 feet deep and from 3 to 4 miles long ; in places they are fringed with magnificent groves. In the south there are some other large natural lakes. The whole north of the district is covered with vast forests occupying an area of 650 square miles, of which 423 square miles are now Government reserves. Sal occu pies about two-thirds of the whole forest area. Kanlar (nodular limestone) of good quality is met with, and salt petre is manufactured in large quantities. The wild animals include tigers, leopards, black buck, spotted deer, hogdeer, and nilgai. At the census of 1869 the population was returned at 746,3;&quot;iO (males 403,837, females 342,51 3) Hindus, 671,686; Mohammedans, 74,307; Christians, 96; &quot;others,&quot; 261. Allowing for recent transfers, the latest return (based on the above census) gives the population at 739,283. All the towns now existing are of recent foundation, none (lilting earlier than the 16th century. Of their origin, one common tale is told. The Musalman or Hajput founder came through the woods and marshes, and seized upon the slight hills or hummocks upon which some Pdsi or Ahir patriarch ruled over a few mud huts. The rightful owner fled deeper into the forest, and the intruder built a block house or a brick fort to guard against his return. Only three towns in 1869 contained upwards of 5000 inhabitants, namely, Kheri, Muhamdi, and Oel, with an aggregate population of 19,087. Lakhimpur, the civil station, is the only municipality in the district. The area under the chief agricultural products is re turned as follows: rice, 166,811 acres; wheat, 135,081 ; other food grains, 851,133; oil-seeds, 29,380; sugar-cane, 41,065; cotton, 6739 ; tobacco, 8265 ; vegetables, 6644 ; fibres, 419 acres. Poppy and indigo are also cultivated. District manufactures are con fined to weaving and cotton printing for local requirements. Grain of all kinds is exported, as also are turmeric, tobacco, timber, sugar, syrup, hides, bullocks, and ghi. Catechu is made in large quan tities throughout the north of the district, from the khair tree (Acacia Catechu], the heart-wood of which is chopped out and boiled down by a caste called Khairis. KhasJcJtas (Andropogon muricaturn), the roots of which are used for matting tatti screens, is exported in large quantities to Benares and Patna. Two great annual religious trading fairs are held at Gola Gokarannath one in January attended by about 50,000 people, and the other in February, lasting about fifteen days, at which 150,000 persons are said to assemble. This great fair is increasing rapidly in importance, goods to the value of about 15,000 being sold annually by traders from all parts of India. The imports, which consist mainly of cotton, salt, country cloth, and English piece goods, considerably exceed the exports in value. The district revenue in 1870 amounted to 74,132, of which 62,471 was derived from the land-tax. In respect of education, Kheri is the most backward district in Ouclh. The mean annual temperature is about 79 Fahr. ; the mean rainfall during the eleven years ending 1874 -was 47 3 inches. The present district only dates its history as an administrative unit from 1858. At the time of the mutiny of 1857 it was divided between the districts of Muhamdi and Mallapur, and was not con stituted a separate district till the reorganization of the province on the pacification of the country. KHERSON, a government of European Ptussia, on the borders of the Black Sea, and conterminous with Bess arabia, Podolia, Kieff, Ekaterinoslaff, and Taurida. The area is estimated at 27,455 square miles. Especially in the south the general aspect of the country is that of an open steppe, and almost the whole government is destitute of forest. The Dniester marks the western and the Dnieper the eastern boundary, and the Bug, the Ingul, and several minor streams traverse the intermediate