BENARES, a large and valuable district of Hindostan, in the province of Allahabad, situated on both sides of the river Ganges, between the 23d and 27th degrees of N. latitude. It contains 1200 square miles of fertile soil, which produces grain, chiefly barley, wheat, several species of the pea, and some rice; besides sugar, indigo, and opium. The air is so cold during the winter as to render fires necessary; but for three months after March it becomes so heated, by the setting in of the hot winds, as to destroy all verdure. It is exceedingly populous and well cultivated, its inhabitants being Hindoos, and well versed in the arts. The country from Patna to Buxar, Gazypoor, Benares, and Mirzapoor, is rich and highly cultivated; while the numerous clumps of mango trees give the district the appearance of a forest, and afford shelter to the cattle. The country is well watered. The principal rivers are the Ganges, the Goomty, the Caramnassa, and the Soane, the two latter being the boundary rivers. Tissues, brocades, and ornamented gauzes, are manufactured throughout the province, and in the northern parts plain and flowered muslins, adapted to common uses; baftas are also fabricated in the western, and sanas in the eastern part of the province. The district furnishes a proportion of the company's opium. The chief towns are Benares, Mirzapoor, Jionpoor, Chunar, and Gazypoor. In answer to some queries circulated by the Marquis Wellesley in 1801, the population was returned at 3,000,000, and the proportion of Hindoos to Mahomedans was as five to one. The Bengal code of regulations has been extended, with little alteration, to the district of Benares. The Brahmins, however, in consideration of their high character, have received some special indulgence in the mode of proceeding against them on criminal charges; and, when they are convicted of a capital offence, the punishment of death is commutable into transportation at the discretion of the government. Many of their criminal practices, however, such as holding out a threat of avenging themselves on their adversaries by suicide, or by the murder of one of their own children, have been subjected to the usual course of punishment by law. Another tribe of Hindoos, among whom it was customary to destroy their female infants, are also subjected to trial and punishment for murder. Cheit Sing, who ruled over this zemindary in 1770, was expelled in 1781 by the British, who since this period have had possession of the country.