DATIA STATE 195
Rs. 35,ooo. The density of population, 515 persons per square mile,
is almost the same as the District average. The tahsil is bounded by
the Ganges on the south, and by the Ramganga on the east. The
northern portion is crossed by the Aril, a tributary of the latter, and
by many small channels, while the Sot traverses the southern portion.
The natural moisture and the character of the soil are peculiarly
favourable to the growth of rice, which this tahsil produces largely. A
considerable area in the south is watered by a system of private canals
taken from the Sot, of some antiquity. As a whole the upland area is
inferior to the rich Katehr tract found in other tahsils of this District,
while the areas bordering on the Ramganga and Ganges are liable to
disastrous floods. In 1903-4 the area under cultivation was 311 square
miles, of which 64 were irrigated. Wells supply half the irrigated areas
and tanks or jhils and rivers the remainder in about equal proportions.
Datana.---Thahurdt in the MALWA A(;FNcv, Central India.
Datha.-Petty State in KATHIAWAR, Bombay.
Datia State.--Treaty State in Central India, under the Bundel-
khand Agency, lying between 25° 34′ and 26° 18′ N. and 78° 13′ and
79° 12′ E., with an, area of about Sir square miles. The territory is
much cut up by intervening parts of Gwalior and other States, the
main section being bordered on the north by portions of Gwalior and
the District of Jalaun ; on the south by C7walior and Jhansi District ;
on the east by Samthar and Jhansi District; and on the west by
Gwalior. The State lies in the level country between the Sind and
Betwa rivers. The Sind and its tributary the Pahfij are the only
important streams.
The country immediately round the chief town lies in the Bundel-
khand gneiss area, but in the northern portion of the State this rock
is overlaid with alluvium. The trees met with in the jungles are of
no great value, being mostly of the mimosa family, though in more
favourable localities the inahud (Bassia latafolia) is found, its flowers
of the jungles makes them unsuitable for big game, though all the
being used as food and for distillation of liquor. The scanty nature
ordinary classes of small game are plentiful. The climate, which is
considerably hotter than that of Malwa, is generally speaking healthy.
The annual rainfall averages 38 inches.
The Datia chiefs are Bundela Rajputs of the ORCHHA house. In
1626 Bir Singh Deo of Orchha granted Datia to his son Bhagwan Rao.
The original territory was considerably extended both by force of arms
and by grants from the Delhi emperors, till the State embraced most of
the country between the Chambal on the north and the Betwa and
Sind on the east ;and west. Bhagwan Rao died in 1656 and was
succeeded by his son Subha Karan, who had served with distinction
under the Mughal emperor in Balkh and Badakshan, during,; the
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