BAHAWULPOOR, a town in Northern India, the principal place of a native state of the same name, is situate on a branch of the Ghara, forty-five miles above the confluence of that river with the Chenab. The territory of which this town is the capital, originally formed part of the province of Moultan, and was held in feudal tenure from the Durance monarch of Kabul. But when Runjee Singh, the ruler of the Punjab, brought Moultan under his authority, the Nawaub of Bahawulpoor, alarmed for his own safety, tendered his allegiance to the British. No encouragement was given to the proposal; but under the treaty of 1809 the Sutlej became the boundary of Runjee's dominions, and Bahawulpoor was thus protected from invasion. Thirty years later, the British government undertook to restore Shah Shujah to the throne of Kabul; and as it then became desirable to fix positively the future relations of Bahawulpoor, it was stipulated that the Nawaub should be released from his allegiance to Kabul, and placed among the allies of the British. Good-will and cordiality towards the British invariably characterized the conduct of the Nawaub, and during the military operations beyond the Indus in 1839, the friendly feeling of the prince was strongly marked in facilitating the passage of the British troops, and in procuring the necessary supplies within his own territories. Upon the conquest of Sinde, the British government marked its sense of the Nawaub's fidelity by gratuitously restoring to him the districts of Subzulcote and Bhoong Bara, which had been wrested from him by the Ameers. On the death of the Nawaub in 1852, a contest for the succession arose between two sons of the deceased ruler. The elder, Hajee Khan, having been disinherited and subjected to imprisonment, his brother, Sadik Khan, consequently obtained the sovereign power in the first instance; but Hajee having made his escape, appeared in arms to assert his claim. Obtaining the support of many of the chiefs and people, and ultimately that of the troops, he succeeded in attaining his object and securing the person of his brother. The British government took no part in the contest, but at its close acquiesced in the recognition of Hajee Khan, interfering only to obtain a competent provision for the unsuccessful competitor, with permission for him to reside within the British territories.
The area of Bahawulpoor has been computed at 20,000 square miles, but a small proportion only of this extent of surface has been hitherto reclaimed from the desert. The fertile tract extends principally along the river line for a distance of about ten miles in breadth from the left or eastern bank, the transition from cultivation to desert being abrupt and striking. Wheat, rice, and various other grains, cotton, sugar, and indigo, form the staple crops. The population is estimated at 600,000. The Nawaub has an annual revenue of L.140,000, and maintains a military force of 13,000 men. The town is in Lat. 29. 24. Long. 71. 47. (E. T.)