a district of British India, presidency of Bengal, bounded on the N. by the district of Behar, N.E. by that of Mongeer, E. by that of Beerbboom, S. by that of Chota Nagpore, and W. by that of Palamow; lying between N. Lat. 23. 20. and 24. 50., E. Long. 83. 30. and 81. 38: length, from E. to W., 676 miles; breadth, 90; area, 8524 square miles. Much of the surface is gently undulating, with groups of hills here and there, and in some places extensive table-lands. Granite, quartz, and other primitive rocks are the components of some of the hills; and the country is rich in ores of coal, iron, lead, antimony, and probably also silver. Numerous rivers, but none of large size, water the country. They flow generally to the Rammohun S.E., discharging their waters into the estuary of the Ganges; but some take a northern course, and join that river at a higher point. Vast, dense, and impenetrable are the forests with which a great part of the district is covered, haunted by many kinds of wild beasts and poisonous serpents, the dread of the inhabitants, who are thinly scattered over the country, dwelling in mud villages, and engaged chiefly in tilling the soil. Nothing that deserves the name of a town is to be seen. Pop. 372,216.