PUNJAB, or PANJAB (from two Persian words signifying five rivers:" the Pata Jrotamia of the Greeks), is an extensive territory in the n.w. of Hindustan, watered by the Indus, and its five greataffinents—the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bens, and Slitlej, and forms a British possession since Feb., 1849. It is the w. by the Suliman mountains, on the n. by Cashmere, and on the e. and s.e. by the Sutlej. which, in its lower course, is called the Ohara. The extreme length is about 800 m., and the width about 650 miles. The total area is over 200,000 Eq.111., more than half of which is the territory of feudatories. The British possessions are 101,829 sq.m., of which less than a third is cultivated. According to the census of 1868 as finally revised and corrected. the pop. is 17,611,498; giving an average of 173 to the sq.mile. The length of roads is 20,798 In.; railways open, 419 miles. Zhc physical character of the northern contrasts strikingly with that of the southern districts. In the u., the whole surface is traversed by spurs from the Himalayas, whi•h inclose deep valieys. In the s., the surface is by any important eminence, except the Salt range, varying front 2,000 to 5,000 ft. high, between the Indy.; and the Jhelum. The country, dii.:ded into lire doabs, or interfiuvial tracts, and frequently spoken of as the plains of the Indus, lies a general elope toward the s.w. The climate in the plains is most oppressively hot and general insummer, reaching in May 115° to 121° in the shade at several stations; but cool, and sometimes frosty, in winter. Little rain falls except in the districts along the base of the Himalayas. The soil varies from stiff clay and loam to sand; but, in general, is sandy and barren, intermixed with fertile spots. The rivers afford abundant means of irriga
tion. The indigenous vegetation of the Punjab is meager. Trees are few in number and small, and fuel is so scarce that cow-dung is much used in its stead. With an leffici en t system of agriculture, however, the territories of this part of India might be rendered very productive. Of the ordinary crops, wheat of excellent quality is produced in considerable quantities, and indigo, sumar, cotton, tobacco, opium, buckwheat, rice, barley, millet, maize, and numerous vegetables and fmits'are grown. The manufactnr ing industry of this region is rely considerable, and is carried on for the most part in the great towns, as Amritsir (q.v.), Lahore (q.v.). Multan (q.v.). etc. Spices and other groceries, dye-stuffs cloths, metals, and hardware. arc imported from the more eas:ern provinces of British India; and grain, ghee, hides, wool, carpets, shawls, silk, cotton, indigo, tobacco, salt, and horses are exported. Tl:e inhabitants are of various races, chiefly Sikhs. Jats, Gujurs, Rajputs, and Pawls. Of the whole population, nearlytirb thirds are .Mohammedans; the remaining third is pretty fairly divided between those of the Hindu faith and the Sikhs. There are upward of 17,000 Europeans in the Punjab. The Jats are the most prominent of the races of the Punjab, and are said to have formed the "core and nucleus" of the Sikh nation and military force. Of the history of the Punjab, all that is important is given under the heading SIKHS.