BALAGHAUT Ceded Districts. This country, which
is in the south of India, comprehends an extensive table-
land, supported like a terrace by the stupendous mountain
wall of the Ghauts. It is a vast extent of level
plains, stretching from the Krishna to the southern extre-
mity of the Mysore, and is named Balaghaut, or "Above
the Ghauts," in contradistinction to Payenghaut, or "Be-
low the Ghauts." This tract of country, which was ac-
quired by the British in 1800, comprehends all the terri-
tory south of the Toombuddra and Krishna rivers, which
are its proper boundaries, and which, owing to its ele-
vated surface, are the only large rivers which it pos-
sesses. The country, the greater proportion of which is
under dry cultivation, produces sugar, indigo, and cotton.
In 1806 a census was made out of the population, which
amounted to 1,917,376. After these districts were ob-
tained from the Nizam in 1800, they were placed under
the management of Colonel Munro, and since this period
they have made great advances in population and prospe-
rity. In the course of seven years the land revenues in-
creased from 1,006,593 to 1,517,272 pagodas; and the in-
habitants, from being a horde of lawless freebooters, were
reclaimed to habits of civilization and submission to the
laws. In the year 1808 the total amount of the revenue
was 1,802,570 pagodas. In ancient times these provinces
formed part of the Hindoo kingdom of Bijanagur; and
many of the modern polygars claim their descent from
the officers, and some from the royal family, of that king-
dom. On the fall of the Mogul government it was broken
into several independent states. It was conquered by
Hyder between the years 1766 and 1780, but in 1800 was
transferred to the British.