BERAR, ba-rar', India, former commis sionership in the Deccan, south and west of the Central Provinces and north of Hyder abad, touching Bombay territory on the west; with an area of 17,766 square miles. It con sists chiefly of a fertile plain bordered on the north and south by low ranges of hills. It is in tersected by the Purna and is partly bounded north and south by the Wardha and Pen ganga flowing east to the Godavari. It has a fertile soil, which produces much good cotton and millet, the best wheat in India, as well as oil-seeds and other produce. The rainfall is regular and this province is in the position of being able to export food to other parts of India. It is intersected by the railway from Bombay to Nagpur and ultimately to Hoy:rah, opposite Calcutta. After being ruled by in dependent sovereigns, it was added in the 17th century to the Mogul empire and latterly be came part of the Nizam's dominions (Hyder abad), to which it still in a sense belongs. In
1853 it was assigned or handed over to the British authorities to provide for the payment of the body of troops which the Nizam had been previously bound to furnish in time of war for the Indian government. A new treaty was concluded in 1860 by which certain territorial alterations were brought about and a considerable debt due by the Nizam was canceled. The arrangement continued until 1902, when Berar was leased to the British in perpetuity and it is now attached to the Cen tral Provinces for administrative purposes. The province has greatly prospered under British rule. It consists of six districts: Ellichpur, Amraoti, Akola, Buldana, Basim and Wun. The largest towns are Ellichpur and Amraoti (Oomrawuttee). Pop. (1911) 3,057,162.