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 regarded only as a composite production based largely upon their contributions, and their names are then recorded elsewhere. This course has been found necessary in order to maintain the character of official authority that attaches to the work.

The articles that make up the body of the Gazetteer have likewise been rewritten, for the most part by officials who had already acquired local experience as Census Superintendents of their Provinces or States in 1901. A list of their names will be found prefixed to the first volume of the Gazetteer proper. As in the previous editions, the articles are based on materials collected by District officers and officials of Native States, supplemented by special contributions from experts. More detailed acknowledgements will be found in the prefaces to the volumes of the Provincial Gazetteers. It may here be mentioned that, since the last edition was compiled, Upper Burma and Baluchistān have both been included within the Empire, and two new Provinces have been constituted, while much more accurate information is now available for the Native States generally.

To come to details. Comparative statistics are usually given for the three Census years, 1881, 1891, and 1901; but in most cases later figures for 1903–4 have been added. The most recent administrative changes have been incorporated or referred to in footnotes, so far as possible. No novelties have been introduced in the way of spelling, the usage now generally adopted in India having been followed, even where this usage cannot be considered satisfactory or consistent. The only important change is the substitution of the mark of length (¯) for the accent (´) over long vowels. Some hints for guidance in pronunciation are given in an Introductory Note, prefixed to each volume. Another Introductory Note supplies a brief explanation of the monetary system and the weights and measures used in India, for it has not been found practicable to convert these uniformly into their English equivalents.

In the present volume, being the Descriptive volume of 'The Indian Empire,' chapters i, ii, iv, v, vii, viii, ix, and x