AGRA, a province of Hindostan, chiefly situated between the 25th and 28th degrees of N. lat. On the north it is bounded by the province of Delhi, on the south by that of Malwah, on the east by the provinces of Oude and Allahabad, and on the west by that of Ajmeer. It is estimated to be 250 miles in length, and in average breadth to be 180. The following are the principal geographical and political divisions:—1. Agra district; 2. the Doab; 3. the district of Etawah; 4. the Furruckabad district; 5. Calpee, Gohud, and Gualior; 6. the Bhurtpoor territories; 7. Alwar or Machery; 8. the Alighur district.
This province has an unequal surface. To the north-east of the Jumna the country is flat and open, and rather bare of trees; but to the south of the Chumbul, and also towards the western frontier, it rises into hills, and is interspersed with jungle. Owing to the elevation of the ground, it has for the greater part of the year a temperate climate. In summer, while the hot winds prevail, it is intensely hot, and the climate is unhealthful, especially among the hills. But these winds do not continue for any length of time; and in the winter months it is actually cold, especially during the night. The province is indifferently watered. The chief rivers are the Jumna, the Chumbul, and the Ganges, besides other streams of inferior note. Except in the vicinity of the large rivers, water is scarce for the purposes of irrigation. Rice, which requires an abundant supply of moisture, is not cultivated. The soil is particularly adapted to the cultivation of indigo, cotton, and sugar, the production of which is annually increasing in the country under the jurisdiction of the British: in that which is still subject to the native chiefs, agriculture is in a backward state. There are no remarkable mineral productions in the province of Agra. The animals differ in no respect from those found in other parts of Hindostan; and the breed of horses is much esteemed. The principal article manufactured is coarse cotton cloth; but no great quantity is exported. The most fertile part of the province is the Doab, or the territory included between the Ganges and the Jumna, which exports indigo, sugar, and cotton. The country to the north-west of Agra, which is under the dominion of the native chiefs, being scantily supplied with water, is of a very inferior quality, and comparatively unproductive. This province is not nearly so populous as Bengal, Jaupore, and the more flourishing parts of the British territory. It does not contain above six millions of inhabitants, of whom the greater proportion live under the British jurisdiction; the remainder under Scindia and others of the native princes. The chief towns, besides Agra, the capital, are Alwar or Aloor, the capital of a native rajah; Bhurtpoor, one of the strongest fortresses in India, which the British carried by storm in 1826; Deeg, another strong fortress; Mathura, Kanoje, Etawah, Gualior, Gohud, Calpee, Narwar, and Furruckabad. The natives are in general a robust and handsome race of people, and consist of a mixture of Hindoos and Mahometans. The Hindoo religion and language are predominant, although the country has been subject to the Mahometans since the thirteenth century.