one of the territorial divisions of Hindustan included with the provinces of Bengal and Orissa in the dewanny or grant conferred upon the East India Company by Shah Alum, emperor of Delhi, in 1765. The province comprises the British districts of Patna, Bahar, and Shahabad, on the right bank of the Ganges, and an equal extent of territory on the left bank, now distributed between the two districts of Sarun and Tirhoot. The area is computed at 22,005 square miles, and its population amounts to 9,672,000. The tract is well watered and highly cultivated. Its principal river is the Ganges, joined on the right side by the Kurumanas, Sone, Phalgu, and Poompu; and on the left by the Gogra, Gunduck, and Bagmati. According to Hindu legend, Bahar comprised the dominions of the kings of Magadha, who are stated to have been lords paramount of India, and whose court is represented as one of the most brilliant that ever existed. Their highest point of grandeur is supposed to have been attained about the time of Seleucus Nicator, one of the immediate successors of Alexander the Great. In the sixteenth century, during the reign of the Emperor Akbar, Bahar constituted one of the fifteen grand divisions or viceroyalties into which India was then distributed.

The present British district of the same name is situated in the southern quarter of the province, of which it comprises about one fourth part, both in its extent and the amount of its population; its area being 5694 square miles, and its population being computed at 2,500,000. Though in general level and marshy, the district is in some parts intersected or bounded by ranges of mountains. One of these ridges extending along its southern frontier, has an elevation of 1000 or 1200 feet above the level of the sea. Another range, called by Major Rennell the Caramshaw Hills, rises on the west side of the river Phalgu; and a more considerable series termed the Rajahgriha Hills, having an elevation of 800 or 900 feet, intersects a portion of the district from N.E. to S.W. Rice, wheat, sugar, indigo, cotton, the ordinary grains of the country, and opium, constitute the staple produce. The cultivation of opium is controlled and regulated by the government, no one being allowed to grow the poppy, except on account of the state; and annual engagements are entered into by the cultivators to sow a specified breadth of land with that plant, and to deliver the whole produce, in the form of opium, to the government agents at a fixed price. Europeans have introduced the potato, which is now extensively grown. The manufacturing industry is of importance, and extends to the production of fabrics of cotton, silk, and muslin, blankets, carpets, coarse cutlery, and hardware, leather, ornaments in gold, silver, and glass, saltpetre, soap, and a variety of other articles. Coal has been discovered at the south-western angle of the district at Deori, on the right bank of the River Sone. Hindee, one of the languages derived from the Sanscrit, is the vernacular; but Hindustanee or Oordoo, a language formed from the fusion of Persian and Arabic with Hindee, is commonly spoken by the Mahometan population. Behar, the chief town, is distant from Patna 37 miles, and from Calcutta 255. Lat. 25° 10'. Long. 85° 35'.