INDIA 621 



government has proposed a bill for the tentative introduction of compulsory education. The 

 Yubaraja, brother and heir of the Maharaja, was created K.C.I.E. at the Delhi Durbar. 



NABHA. The population of this native State in 1911 was 248,887, showing a decrease of 

 16.5 % during the decade, due to the prevalence of plague and malaria. The Raja, the hon- 

 oured type of an old-fashioned Sikh chief, died on December 25, 1911, at the age of 68, having 

 been too ill to attend the Delhi Durbar. He was succeeded by his son, Ripridaman Singh, 

 born in 1883, who paid a visit to England in 1910, and who, as a member of the Viceroy's 

 Legislative council, introduced the Anand Marriage Act (passed in 1909) to validate a certain 

 marriage rite of the Sikhs. 



NICOBAR ISLANDS. The population of the Nicobar Islands in 1911 was 8,818, showing 

 an apparent increase of no less than 35.4% during the decade. For the first time most of 

 the tribes were actually enumerated, while the savage Shorn Pen, of whom not even an 

 estimate could be formed, accidentally supplied the defect. At the very time of the Census 

 they issued a declaration of war, accompanying it with two tally-sticks, on which notches 

 were cut to indicate the number of fighting men in their settlements, the several settlements 

 being marked off by lateral notches. 



N.W. FRONTIER PROVINCE. The total population of the North-West Frontier Prov- 

 ince in 1911 was 3,819,027, showing an apparent increase of no less than 79.7% during the 

 decade. But these figures are misleading. They include estimates of 1,084,824 in the 

 agencies and of 519,441 in the trans-border tribal areas under "political" control, which were 

 omitted from the Census of 1901. In British and "administered" territories alone, the pop- 

 ulation was 2,196,933, showing an increase of 7.6"%. 2,039,994 were Mahommedans. 



Agricultural seasons have been favourable, especially for the important wheat crop. 

 There has, however, been a great increase in crime, not of a political nature and not connected 

 with border feuds; and a regrettable outbreak of Mahommedans against Hindus occurred 

 at Peshawar in March 1910. Education is very backward, but the proposal to found an 

 Islamic college at Peshawar has been warmly taken up. 



The peace on the frontier has nowhere been seriously disturbed. The large agency tract 

 to the north, consisting of Dir, Swat and Chitral, shows steady progress and development, 

 and a high standard of discipline and behaviour is maintained by all the militia corps. Raids 

 there have been, especially by the Mahsuds; but they are being conciliated, partly by the 

 offer of work on roads and railways, and partly by enlistment in the army. The most 

 important matter has been the appointment of a joint commission with the Afghan govern- 

 ment, which met from May to October, 1910, for the settlement of outstanding disputes, 

 which came to an agreement for the removal of outlaws from both countries to a distance 

 of fifty miles from the border. Caravan traffic through the Khyber Pass has gone on without 

 interruption, and two of the Amir's motor cars ran through to Peshawar from Jalalabad. 



PATIALA. The population of this native State in 1911 was 1,407,659, showing a decrease 

 of n.8% during the decade, due to the prevalence of plague and malaria. The young 

 Maharaja was invested with full powers on November 3, 1910, by the Viceroy, who visited 

 the state for the purpose. In the following year he came to England for the Coronation, and 

 on one or two occasions played cricket with success for the Indian team. At the Delhi Dur- 

 bar, as the leading Sikh chief, he organised in person the Sikh religious service of loyalty that 

 attracted much notice; and he was created G.C.I.E. The Maharani on the same occasion 

 presented to the Queen an address from Indian ladies, with an historic jewel. 



PATNA. The population of Patna city in 1911 was 136,153, showing an apparent increase 

 of I % during the decade; but plague was raging at the time of the Census in 1901, and if 

 comparison be made with an enumeration taken later in that year, there would appear a 

 decrease of 11.4%. The district and of the division both show a small decrease. 



Patna, or rather the adjoining civil station of Bankipur, has been chosen as the capital 

 of the new province of Bihar and Orissa, constituted on April I, 1912. In addition to the 

 official buildings required, it. is proposed to provide a High Court and also probably a Univer- 

 sity, both independent of Calcutta. The existing college has recently been equipped with 

 hostels for students. The King twice passed in a steamer along the river front of the 

 city in December 1911, when going to, and returning from, his shooting trip in Nepal. 



POONA. The population of Poona city in 1911 was 158,856, showing an increase of 3.6% 

 during the decade; the population of the district was 1,071,512, showing an increase of 7-7%, 

 due to recovery after famine. The Agricultural College has recently been completed and 

 official buildings for the secretariat &c. are in progress. A water supply scheme, estimated 

 to cost 116,000, has been begun. Among the most interesting modern institutions are the 

 Servants of India Society, founded by the Hon. G. K. Gokhale for preparing graduates by 

 further study for careers of national usefulness; and the Se'va Sadan sisterhood, under the 

 direction of the widow of Justice Ranade. The memorial to King Edward VII has taken the 

 form of a hospital for women and children. 



PUDUKKOTTAI. The population of this native State in 1911 was 411,886, showing an 

 increase of 8.3 % during the decade. Owing to continued ill-health, the Raja has been 

 absent in Europe for almost the whole of the last three years. 



PUNJAB. The total population of this Province in 191 1 was 24,187,750, showing a decrease 

 of 2.3 % during the decade, due to the prevalence of plague and malaria. For the native 



