n Northern India, a city in the British province of the Punjab, situated within the Division of Lahore, and at an equal distance from the rivers Beas and Ravi. It is a populous and extensive place, having a circumference of eight miles; and though the streets are narrow, the houses are lofty and substantially built of brick. Its opulence, which is considerable, is not the result of its manufactures, which, with the exception of fine shawls made in imitation of the Cashmere fabric, are confined to coarse cloths and inferior silks, but has been derived partly from an extensive transit trade carried on between Cashmere, Hindustan, and Central Asia, and partly from its reputation for sanctity, which has caused it to become a favourite resort for pilgrims. It is not impossible, however, that its trade may shortly be diverted to Shikarpore, Sukkur, and other towns on the Indus, where periodical commercial fairs, upon a large scale, have been recently established under the authority of the British Government. The remaining source of the prosperity of Amritsar is a reservoir or sacred basin constructed in the year 1581 by Ram Das, the fourth Guru or Spiritual Guide of the Seiks, immersion in which is supposed to purify from all sin. The reservoir is about 135 paces square, built of brick, in the centre of which stands a temple dedicated to Guru Govind Singh, in which is lodged under a silken canopy the book of laws written by this saint.

From 500 to 600 priests are supported by the pious contributions of the devotees. Provision is made for an ample supply of water to the town by means of the Baree Doab Canal, now in course of execution. This canal issues from the Ravee above the town of Dinamuggur, and traversing the country in a south-westerly direction, rejoins the parent stream some distance above its junction with the Chenab. The total length of the canal and its branches is 450 miles, and its cost has been computed at L527,000. A striking object in Amritsar is the fortress of Govindghur, built by Ranjeet Singh in 1809. Measures have been recently reported to be by the British for adding to its security, and it is now a place of great strength. Distance east from Lahore 37 miles. Lat. 31. 40. N. Long. 74. 45. E. (v. r.)