DELHI, in Hindustan, a British district under the jurisdiction of the lieutenant-governor of the north-western provinces. Its boundaries are the district of Panneput on the north; the River Jumna on the east, dividing it from the districts of Meerut and Boolundshulur; the district of Goorgaon on the south, and the petty native states of Buhardoor-gurh and Jhujur on the west. It has an area of 602 square miles, and lies between Lat. 28. 24. and 28. 54.; Long. 76. 49. and 77. 29. The climate is characterized by aridity, and the soil being for the most part sandy or stony, its successful cultivation depends in a great measure on artificial means of irrigation. The principal alimentary crops are wheat, barley, and pulse. Water is procured from wells, but these have to be dug to a great depth. Happily an abundant supply from a more accessible source has been rendered available to a considerable portion of the district. In 1356 a celebrated aqueduct, diverging from the Jumna at the very spot where that river issues from the mountains, was constructed by Feroz Shah, king of Delhi, and conducted in a westerly direction to the royal hunting grounds of Hansi and Hissar. At the distance of 80 miles from the commencement of this aqueduct, the canal of Ali Mardan Khan, a Persian nobleman of great eminence, parted from Feroz Shah's canal, and traversing the district in a southerly direction, rejoined the Jumna at the city of Delhi. It was a noble work, which gave fertility to a large district along its banks, and was the sole source of vegetation in the gardens of Delhi, besides furnishing the inhabitants with the only drinkable water within their reach. This aqueduct, which, from indolence, neglect, and the devastations of intestine war to which this province was long exposed, had been allowed to fall entirely into disrepair, was re-opened by the British government in 1820, to the great joy of the inhabitants of Delhi, who went out in jubilee to meet its stream, throwing flowers, ghee, and other things into the water, and calling down all manner of blessings on the British government. The supply of water derived from this aqueduct enables the inhabitants in a large tract of country to have recourse to irrigation, and thus to render the soil productive. According to the census taken in 1853 the population amounts to 435,744. Of this number 235,203 are males, and 200,541 females. The Hindu population greatly preponderates; its proportion, compared with that of all other classes, being about eight to three; but in the city of Delhi, long the seat of a Mohammedan monarchy, the proportion of Mussulmans nearly equals that of Hindus.