Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/335

 BERI STATE AND TOWN.

325

secure Bengal against such another occurrence as the revolt of Mir

Kasim

in 1763. The barracks were completed in 1767, at a cost of ^302,270. They still form the most prominent feature of the town, though of late years they have been rarely occupied by European troops, and have now (1881) been to a great extent appropriated to

other uses.

In 1786, they contained 2 regiments of Europeans, 7 or 8 of Sepoys, and 15 or 16 guns. By 1857, this garrison had dwindled down to I battalion of Native Infantry, 1 of irregular cavalry, and the Mutiny, European

were again stationed The cantonment will always be remembered as the scene of the first overt act of mutiny in 1857. The Sepoys of the 19th Native Infantry, who had been intensely excited by the story of the greased cartridges, rose, on the night of the 25th February, in open mutiny, but were prevented from doing any actual harm by the firm and at the same time conciliatory behaviour of their commanding officer. Colonel Mitchell. An account 2

guns.

After

here, but they were finally

withdrawn

in

‘

troops

1870.

’

of this event will be found in Sir John Kaye’s History of the Sepoy War (3rd edition, pp. 496-508), quoted in a condensed form in the Statistical

Account of Bengal, vol. ix. pp. 7 7-80. The civil courts are about a mile from the barracks south-west ; the treasury, magistrate’s and

and lunatic asylum are within them. There are the town, and the cemetery contains some interesting memorial stones. A Government college, founded in 1853, was in 1880-81 attended by 33 students. Beri {Behri, Bheri). Petty State in Bundelkhand, Central Indian Agency, lying between 25° 53' and 25° 57' 45" n. lat., and between 79° 54' 15" and 80° 4' E. long. area, about 30 square miles; population (1881) 4985, namely, Hindus, 4754, and Muhammadans, 231 ; revenue, The chief is a Puar Rajput. He holds his territories by an ikrdrnd?na, or deed of fealty and obedience to the British Government, and a sanad from the Government confirming possession. He has also He maintains a force of 25 cavalry and 125 a sanad of adoption. infantry. Chief town, Beri, situated on the left bank of the Betwa collector’s offices, jail,
 * ^2ioo.

several

churches

in

—



river,

about 20 miles south-east of Kalpi.

Beri.

— Town and municipality

in the

Rohtak

tahsil,

Rohtak

District,

Punjab, situated on the high road between Delhi and Bhiwani. 28° 42' N., long. 76° 36' 15" E.

Population (1881) 9695,

Lat.

namely,

8876 Hindus, 3 Sikhs, 3 Jains, 813 Muhammadans. Area of town A third-class municipality, with an income, in site, 1906 acres. Founded a.d. 930 by an expenditure, ;^863. 1880-81, of eponymous trader of the Dogra caste. Great mercantile centre of the two neighbourhood, and the residence of many wealthy bankers largely frequented fairs, in February and October, in honour of the goddess Devi, at the latter of which a pony and donkey show is held.