---

Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 75.

PUNDE,LKHAND AGENCY 75 the United Provinces and by part of Gwalior: Of the total area, about 8,ooo square miles lie in the level country to the west of the Panna range, while the remainder falls in the rugged tract formed by that branch of the Vindhyas. Except in the small portion lying north of Datia, the principal rock up to the Panna range is gneiss. In the area north of Datia and surrounding Samthar, however, this formation is covered with alluvium. In the Panna range sandstones and other rocks of the Vindhyan series are well represented. The mineral riches of this tract may be considerable, but have as yet been imperfectly examined. The soil is generally of much lower fertility than in Malwa, being mainly of the lighter classes known as hdbar and rdnhar. The population in 1901 was I,3o8,3i6, giving a density Of 133 persons per square mile. Hindus numbered 1,225,740, or 94 per cent. ; Musalmans, 46,356; Animists (chiefly Gonds), 22,952; Jains, 12,207; and Christians, 608. The Agency contains 4,244 villages and 1o towns, of which 7 are the capitals of States, the remaining 3 being NOWGONG cantonment (11,507), SEONDHA (5,542), and NADIGAON (4,443) For the early history of this tract see BRITISH BUNDELKHAND. The political charge was created in x802 after the Treaty of Bassein, a Political officer being attached to the forces operating in Bundelkhand for the purpose of introducing order into the civil administration. In 1811, when the country was settled, an Agent to the Governor-General for Bundelkhand was appointed, with head-quarters at Banda. In 1818 the head-quarters were moved to Kalpi, in 1824 to Hamirpur, and in 1832 back to Banda. In 1835 the control passed to the newly appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces, whose head-quarters were at Agra. In 1849 the superior control was handed over to the Commissioner for the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories a Political Assistant at Jhansi holding immediate charge under his orders. The Assistant was soon after moved to NowGONG, which is still the head-quarters, the superior control being transferred to the Resident at Gwalior, who at this time held an independent charge directly under the Supreme Government. In 1854, on the creation of the CENTRAL INDIA AGENCY, the control passed to the Agent to the Governor-General for Central India. From 1862 to 1871 the Baghel- khand charge was held conjointly with that of Bundelkhand, the Political Assistant being replaced in 1865 by a Political Agent. In 1888 KHANIADHANK was made over to the Resident at Gwalior, and in 1896 the CHAUBE JKGIRS with Baraunda and with Jaso were transferred to Baghelkhand. There are now 9 States, 13 estates, and the isolated pargana of ALAMPUR belonging to the Indore State in the Bundelkhand Agency. Of these, only 3 are held under treaties : namely, ORCHHK, DATIA, and SAMTHAR. The remainder are sanad holdings: namely, PANNA, CHARKHARI, AJAIGARH, BIJAWAR, BAONI, CHHATARPUR,