Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 11.djvu/365

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GWA—GWA
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at Gyor (Raab), in the middle school of which town he was teaching during the two following years. In 1811 he was again at Pannonhegy, whence in 1812 he was sent to Pesth to study theology. Here he became acquainted with the works of the best German and Hungarian authors, and also took part in the editorship of the Nemzeti (National) Plutarku-s, and in the translation of Hiibner s Lexicon. After about four years stay at Pesth, he obtained the degree of doctor of divinity, and returned to Pannonhegy, where he devoted himself to dogmatic theology and literature. So great was his activity that it is said that there was hardly an Hungarian periodical to which Guzmics was not a contributor. The most important of his theological works are A kath. anyaszentegyhdznak hitbeli tanitdsa (The doctrinal teaching of the Holy Catholic Church), and A kereszlenyeJcnek valldsbeli egyesulesokrol (On Religious Unity among Christians), both published at Pesth in 1822 ; also a Latin treatise entitled Theologia Christiana fundamental is et theologia dogmatica (Gyor, 1828-29, 4 vols.). Of the other literary labours of Guzmics the most meritorious is a translation of Theocritus in hexameters published in 1824. His versions of the (Edipus of Sophocles and of the Tplii- genia of Euripides were rewarded by the Hungarian Academy, of which in 1838 he was elected honorary mem ber. From 1832 to the date of his death he was editor of the Egyhdzi Tdr (Ecclesiastical Treasury). In 1832 he was appointed abbot of the wealthy Benedictine Louse at BikonybiM, a village in the county of Veszpre m. While there he built an asylum for 150 children, and founded a school of harmony and singing. He died at Bakonybel on

the 1st September 1839.

GWALIOR, a native state in political relationship with the Central India Agency and the Government of India. The state consists of several detached districts, the principal of which is bounded on the N.E. by the Chambal river, dividing it from the British districts of Agra and Etawah ; on the E. by Bimdelkhand and Sagar (Saugor) districts ; on the S. by the states of Bhopal and Dhar ; on the W. by those of Rijgarh, Jhalawar, and Kotah ; and on the N.W. by the Chambal, separating it from Karauli (Kerowlee), and Dholpiir in Rajputana. The extreme points of the Gwalior territory are in 23 21 and 26 52 N. lat., 76 31 and 79 21 E. long. The area, including part of the ancient province of Agra and most of Malwa, is 33,119 square miles. The extreme north-eastern part is generally level, bare, and of no great fertility. A little farther south the surface rises into hills. The country is dotted over with small hills, which start abruptly out of the level plain. On one of these stands the fortress of Gwalior. The geological forma tion of these rocky eminences is a very fine-grained sand stone, yielding an excellent building stone. The middle tract is a plateau, having probably an average elevation of about 1500 feet. The Mandu range running east and west forms the southern boundary of the plateau, sloping gently northwards towards it, and dipping precipitously southwards towards the Narbada (Nerbudda). The state is watered by numerous rivers. The Nerbudda, flowing west, forms the boundary of the most southern part of the state. The greater part of the drainage is discharged into the Chambal, which forms the north-western and northern and eastern boundary. The Sind, with its tributaries the Kuwari, Asar, Sankh, and other smaller streams, flows through the state. The chief products are opium, known as Malwa opium, wheat, gram, pulses of various kinds, jodr, bdjra, mug, maize, rice, linseed and other oil-seeds, garlic, tumeric, ginger, sugar-cane, indigo, al yielding a fine red dye, tobacco, and cotton. Many species of wild beasts and birds are found throughout the state. The rivers abound in fish, especially of the carp kind.

Burhanpur is the site of a considerable manufacture of fine cottons, silks, and rich brocades. Iron ore is raised and smelted in many places. The principal imports are British woollens, cottons, silks, cutlery, cashmere shawls, pearls from the Persian Gulf, Ceylon diamonds, and agates from Bundelkhand, gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead, and zinc. The chief exports are opium, cotton, tobacco, dyes, and iron. The Indore and Ajmere narrow-gauge railway, now (1879) in course of construction, will pass through the west of Gwalior state, while a railway on the broad gauge, to con nect Gwalior town with Agra, is approaching completion.

During the hot and dry seasons the climate is not un healthy, but during the rainy season fevers prevail, especi ally in the north. The range of the thermometer is un usually small, except during the sultry season, when it sometimes rises to nearly 100 during the day. The aver age rainfall during the rainy season is 50 inches.

The population of the north-eastern part of this territory is of many elements, comprising, besides Marhattas (the ruling race), Bundelas, Jats, and Rajputs, with some less distinctly defined divisions of Hindus and Mahometans. There is perhaps no part of India where the tribes of Brahmans are so various and their number so great as in the southern, and south-western parts. The Mahometan population is estimated at about a twentieth of the whole. Including the cessions to Sindhia under the treaty of I860, the territories of the Gw r alior state were in 1875 estimated to contain a population of about 2,500,000 souls. The total revenue in 1875 was 1,200,000. Education is afforded by 92 schools attended by 3206 pupils.


The Gwalior family, whose armies and chiefs have played so conspicuous a part in the history of India, and whose representative now rules over a state larger than Scotland and Wales united, and richer than many independent kingdoms, was founded by Ranoji Sindhia, whose father was pdtel (head-man) of a Deccan village. Once in the household of the peshwa, Ranoji s rise was rapid, and he was soon at the head of the bodyguard. After heading many Marhatta raids through Malwa into Hindustan, he was at the time of his death the acknowledged possessor of lands which still form part of the Gwalior state. He was succeeded by his son Mahadaji Sindhia, whose ability as a statesman and a soldier has rarely been surpassed. At his death he was succeeded by his grand-nephew Daulat Rao Sindhia. The power of Sindhia was at tliis time most dangerous to the British Government, who now began to take measures to check the power of this chief. Sindhia entered into a league with the raja of Berar to defeat their aim, but their allied armies were defeated in 1803 at Assaye by a British force com manded by General Sir Arthur Wellesley, subsequently duke of Wellington. By the end of the same year, the Marhattas were completely overthrown, and Sindhia was compelled to sue for peace and to sign a treaty by which he resigned his conquered territories. Eventually, by a treaty concluded in 1805, Gwalior and Gohad were ceded to Sindhia. Daulat Rao died at Gwalior in 1827 without an heir. On his deathbed, he left the state and succession in the hands of the British Government. The succession of a boy of the Sindhia family, Mugat Rao, to whom it was thought the wishes of Daulat Rao turned, was admitted by the British Government. The young maharaja was subsequently married to the granddaughter of Daulat Rao, and took the name of Janakji Sindhia. In 1843 he died without issue. His widow, with the concurrence of the chief nobles, adopted Bajivat Rao, a lad eight years of age. The British Government recognized the adoption, and Bajirat Rao, under the name of Baji Rao Sindhia, succeeded, and is the present ruler (1879). Early in the regency disturbances took place, and the advance of British troops on Gwalior became necessary to restore order. Two battles, Maharajpur and Fanniar, were fought on the same day the 29th December 1843 between the British forces and the mutinous army. They both resulted in the total defeat of the Gwalior troops. No event of historical importance has taken place since, except the revolt between the Gwalior contingent and Sindhia s army in 1857. The maharaja s conduct throughout has been conspicuous for its loyalty. In recognition of his services, the Government conferred upon him the right of adoption, together with lands yielding a revenue of 30,000.


Gwalior, the capital of Gwalior state, and fortress

residence of the Maharaja Sindhia, is situated in 26 13 N. lat. and 78 12 E. long., 65 miles S. from Agra, and 277 N.W. of Allahabad. Gwalior city has a threefold

interest : first, as a very ancient seat of Jain worship ;