or MOULTAN, a province of Hindustan, constituting one of the territorial divisions of the Punjab, and containing an area of 15,494 square miles, with a population amounting to 971,175.

the capital of the above province, situated 4 miles from the left bank of the Chinaub or Acesines, below the points where it receives the waters of the Ravey (Hydrotees) and the Jhylum (Hydrastes), and about 30 miles above its confluence with the Indus. It was formerly inclosed by a fine wall from 40 to 50 feet in height, with towers at regular distances; and had a citadel on a rising ground. The vicinity is covered with an amazing quantity of ruins of tombs, mosques, and shrines, which show the former extent and antiquity of the city. The adjacent country is fertile, well cultivated, well watered from wells, and productive of wheat, millet, cotton, turnips, carrots, and indigo. Mooltan is noted for the manufacture of silks, and for a species of carpet, which, however, is much inferior to those of the Persian manufacture. This is supposed to have been the city known anciently by the name of Malli; and in 1582 it is described by Abul Fazel as one of the most ancient cities of Hindustan. It was plundered by Mahmoud of Ghizni about the year 1006, and was again plundered by Timour in 1398. For many years the nawab paid a tribute annually, for protection, to the sovereign of Cabul. In 1806 it was captured and plundered by Runjeet Singh. In 1809 the nabob was obliged to pay tribute to the Amirs of Sind; and in 1818 it was again captured by Runjeet Singh, who cut to pieces the garrison of 3000, with the exception of a small number admitted to quarter. Subsequently to the death of Runjeet Singh, and during the distracted times which ensued, this place again furnished an object of contention. In 1848 the atrocious conduct of Dewan Moolraj, who held the fortress where two British officers were basely assassinated, called for the renewal of hostilities on the part of the British, which were rendered memorable by the energy and enterprise displayed by Major Herbert Edwardes, then only a subaltern. At that time the citadel of Mooltan was represented as being more regular in construction than any other stronghold laid down in India by native engineers. The wall was surrounded by thirty towers, and protected by a ditch faced with masonry. On the 2d January 1849 the city was captured by a British force under General Whish, after an obstinate and gallant defence; and on the 22d, practicable breaches having been effected, the British troops were about to storm the citadel, when Moolraj with his whole garrison surrendered unconditionally. A few months later the destruction of the fort was completed by the elements, when the most violent storm ever remembered occasioned the flooding of the rivers of the Punjab. It was not thought advisable to repair the fortress. An obelisk, erected in the town by order of the British government, preserves the memory of those who fell in the Sutlej and Punjab campaigns. The circumstances under which this part of Runjeet Singh's territories became a portion of the British dominions will be found detailed in the article Punjab. The population of Mooltan, including the suburbs and cantonment, is given at about 80,000. Lat. 30.12, Long. 71.30.