Punjab.

Date:: 1908

Credit: Punjab. Source: Wellcome Collection.

428/486 (page 396)

$Manu- factures and trade. Means of communi- cation. Adminis- tration and State subdivi- sions. Revenue. Police, jails, and army. the mines, the Raja being authorized to charge, in addition to the duty of 4J annas per maund, 10^ annas as the price of the salt. The revenue derived by the State from this source in 1903-4, when the duty was 6 annas a maund, amounted to Rs. 96,693, while the British Government’s share of the duty was Rs. 31,639. With the exception of the ordinary manufactures of iron- ware, brass utensils, woodwork, dyeing, and weaving, there are no industries; and the trade of the State is confined to the export of rice, wheat, potatoes, tea, salt, and ghl^ with timber and other forest produce. Piece-goods, utensils, and ornaments are imported largely, with sugar, oil, and Khewra salt in small quantities. The principal route to Mandi town is the road from Pathan- kot on the North-Western Railway. This is metalled from Pathankot to Baijnath (82 miles) in Kangra District, and the State has undertaken to metal the remaining 47 miles in Mandi territory. The Beas is crossed at Mandi town by the Empress Bridge, built by the State in 1878 at a cost of a lakh. From Mandi two roads lead into Kulu, one, the summer route, over the Bhabu pass (9,480 feet), and the other over the Dulchl pass. Minor roads, open all the year round, connect Mandi town with Jullundur (124 miles), Doraha (via Rtipar, 106 miles), and Simla (via Suket, 88 miles). The Raja is assisted in the administration of the State by the Wazir, who is entrusted with very extensive powers, both executive and judicial. As a judicial officer, his decisions are subject to appeal to the Raja; and sentences of death passed by him are submitted to the Raja for concurrence, and further require confirmation by the Commissioner of the Jullundur Division, who is the Political Agent to the Lieutenant- Governor for the State. As a revenue officer, the Wazir controls the two tahsildars^ whose judicial decisions are also subject to appeal to him. Though there are only two officers with the rank of tahsllddr^ the State is divided into four fahsi/s, Nagar-Mandl, Chichot, Gopalpur, and Harabagh, which com- prise 8, 3, 3, and 10 of the old ivaziris respectively. The total revenue in 1903-4 was 4-4 lakhs, of which 2-3 lakhs was land revenue. Out of this, a lakh is paid as tribute to the British Government. The State is divided into eight police circles, each under a deputy-inspector {thdnaddr), and there are 137 constables. The whole force is under an Inspector. The jail at Mandi town has accommodation for 50 prisoners, and there is a$

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