PALANPUR AGENCY, THE. 537 The territory included in the Political Agency of Palanpur has, like the more central parts of Gujarat (Guzerát), passed during historical times under the sway of the different Rajput dynasties of Anhilwara (746–1304); then the Ahmadábád Sultáns (1390–1573); then the Mughal Emperors (1573-1757); then the Marathás (1757-1819); and last the British. British connection with Pálanpur dates from 1809; with Radhanpur, from 1813; and with the remaining States, from 1819, when, much harassed with freebooting raids froin Sind, the chiefs prayed the British Government to lielp them, offering to pay a share of the charges incurred in restoring order. In September 1822, the chiefs of the States agreed to forbid the transport of contraband opium through their territories, Population. — The Census of 1881 returned the population at 576,478, namely, 301,550 males and 274,928 females, dwelling in 4 towns and 1104 villages, and occupying 125,237 houses. Density of population, 72'1 persons per square mile. Distributed according to religion, the Census returned – Hindus, 494,737, or 85.8 per cent. of the population ; Muhammadans, 53,197, or 9.5 per cent. ; Jains, 28,111, or 4.8 per cent.; Christians, 225; Pársis, 207; and Jew, 1. Among the Hindus, Bráhmans numbered 23,503; Rajputs, 27,702; Chamárs, 2846; Darjis (tailors), 4954; Nápits (barbers), 8508; Kunbis (cultivators), 68,728; Kolís (labourers), 137,077 ; Kumbhárs (potters), 17,261 ; Lohánas, 3156; Lohárs (blacksmiths), 11,147; Mális (gardeners), 3793 ; Mhárs (low castes), 42,647; Sonárs (goldsmiths), 3153; Sutárs (carpenters), 9582. The Muhammadans, of whom 40,944 belonged to the Sunni sect, and 12,253 to the Shis, were thus divided in tribes - Balúchís, 2338; Patháns, 4019; Sayyids, 417; Shaikhs, 14, 182 ; Sindhis, 4477; and others,' 27,764. The principal towns are — PALASPUR (17,547); RADHANPUR (14,722); SHAMI (5306); Disa TOWN (3830), CANTONMENT (4546). Agriculture.—The soil of Pálanpur Agency is of three kinds :(1) The black, suited to cotton, rice, millets, wheat, and (if there be water) sugar-cane; (2) a light soil, fitted for the different kinds of pulse; and (3) sandy for pulses and the palmyra palm (Borassus flabelliformis). The country has not been surveyed, and the exact cultivated area is unknown; but it may be roughly stated that about three-fifths of the whole is cultivated, the remaining two-fisths about equally divided between cultivable and uncultivable lands. Except on irrigated lands, manure is not generally used. Holdings vary from eight to fifty acres and upwards. Most of the land is in the hands of holders of service lands. Skilled husbandmen are comparatively few in number, and the majority of them are hampered with debt, and are more or less in the hands of the village money-lenders.
