MALWAH, an extensive province of Hindostan, situated principally between the 22d and 29d degrees of northern latitude. On the north it is bounded by the provinces of Ajmeer and Agra, on the east by Allahabad and Gundwanch, on the south by Khandeish and Berar, and on the west by Ajmeer and Gujerat, being in length about 250 miles, and in breadth 150. Till very recently, the whole of this territory was in the occupation of the Mahrattas, the capitals of Dowlet Row Sindea and Holkar being both in it, and within 30 miles of each other. Malwah is a very elevated region, as numerous rivers have their sources in it, and descend in every direction. The principal of these are the Narbudda, Chumbul, Sopra, and Cane. The land is, however, extremely fertile, the soil being in general a fine black mould, which produces cotton, opium, sugar, indigo, tobacco, and all the various grains of India, besides furnishing pasture for numerous herds of cattle, flocks of sheep, &c. Like Bengal and some other provinces, it has two harvests, the first or superior ending in April, the second or inferior in October. The tobacco, particularly that of the district of Bilsah, is highly esteem-
ed, and carried to all parts of the country. The other articles of its produce are sent to Gujerat, Broach, or into the eastern provinces, by the rivers which communicate with the Jumna. Bickermajeet, one of the most celebrated rajahs of Hindostan, of whom there is any authentic history, reigned over Malwah; he overran many of the other provinces, and compelled their princes to pay him tribute, and acknowledge him as their lord paramount. Such was his fame, that the Hindoos have adopted his reign as one of their eras. It commenced 57 years before the birth of Christ. His capital was situated about a mile to the northward of Oujain, and bore the same name. This province was conquered by the Mahometans in the middle of the thirteenth century; but on the death of the emperor Balio, in 1286, the governor Dilavur Khan rebelled, and laid the foundation of an independent kingdom, which lasted upwards of 170 years. Their capital was Mundu, a very extensive city, situated in the hills, 20 miles south of Oujain. Malwah was subdued, and its capital taken by the Mogul emperor Homayon, in the year 1534, and remained annexed to the empire of Delhi till after the death of Aurungzebe in 1707, when it was invaded, and by degrees taken possession of by the Mahrattas; by whom it was divided into several portions among the chiefs, according to the gradual progress of their arms, which has caused such an intermixture of their territories, that it is extremely difficult to discriminate them. The ancient landholders, called Grassiah, still retain possession of some of the hill forts, and exact contributions from the adjoining districts; and a portion of the southern part of the province was till lately held by the Pindaree chiefs, whose incursions into the British dominions brought on the late Mahratta war.—Edinburgh Gazetteer, or Geographical Dictionary.