Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 8 (2nd edition).pdf/501

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Provinces; lying between 26' 6' and :7' 21' 3” N. lot, and between 80' 7 and 81‘ 56' 1‘. long. It forms the south—cast Division of the Province of Oudh, and comprises the 3 Districts of Lucxuow, Uon, and Batu llama, cnch of which see separately. It is bounded on the north by liardoi and Sitapur Districts; on the east by Bahrziich and Gonda Districts; on the south by l-‘niza’ixid (l-‘yrzibddL Sultnnpur, and Ra'i Bareli Districts ; and on the west by the Ganges, separating it from the North-Western Provinces Districts of l’atehpur and Can-npur. Area, 4504; square miles, containing 18 towns and 4676 villages, with 470,180 houscs. Total population in 1869, 2,837,580, namely, males 1,466,83t, and {comics 1,370,749. Total population (1881) 2,622,681, namely, innlcs 1,350,053, and females 1,272,628. The decrease of population during the twelve years ending 1881 was, therefore, 214,899, or 7'6 per cent. The decrease varics from 4'9 per cent. in Unao to 8'3 per cent. in Barn Banki, and 10'5 per cent. in Lucknow. These Districts formed part of the tract which suffered from the drought of 1877—78, and the terrible fever of the following year. The District officers concur in nscribing the diminution to these disastrous years, and they show the rate of decrease to be highest in those [trig-anti: where the people suffered most.

Classified according to religion, the Census of 1881 returned the population as follows :—Hindus, 2,22 5, 508, or 848 per cent; Muham- madam, 389,154, or 14'8 per cent.; Sikhs, 282; Christians, 6407, mainly consisting of the Lucknow garrison of European troops; Jains, i301; Pdrsis, I9; and Jews, to. AniOng the higher castes, irtiht'nans number 359,100, constituting the second most numerous caste in the Division; and Rtijputs, 141.512; the two castes aggregating 400,612, or 153 per cent. or" the total population. The Baniytis or trading class number 49,868 ; and the Kayasths, or writer caste, who form the bulk of the native officials, 39,410. Of the lower 0r Siidra castes, the most important are—Ahirs, the most numerous caste in the Division, 271,251; Chamfirs, 211,385; Kurrm's, 184,747; Lodhis, 157,891 ; Kachhis, 76,412; Koris, 64.446; Kahfirs. 46,274; Gadérias, 45,966; Nais, 44,541; Telis, 42,581; Barhnis, 40,751; Dhobis, 37,112; Bhurji's, 30,96: ; Kumbhzirs, 26,424; Loha’rs, 23,944; Tambult's, 20,463. The old aboriginal tribe of Pdsis are returned at 227,695 in number, and are included in the Census Report among the Hindus. The ancient dominant tribe of Bhars, who ruled the country prior to the Rajput and early Muhammadan invasions, have now entirely dis- appwed from this part of the country, or been absorber] into some one or other of the Hindu low castes. as the Census only returns 19 Bhars in the whole Lucknow Division. The Muhammadan population consists of 347,466 Sunnis and 41,688 Shins, the latter, who are chiefly found in the neighbourhood of Lucitan City, being the descendants