JHAHG DISTRICT Izg
irregular triangle, artificially constituted for administrative purposes
from portions of three separate Hunts. Its eastern half embraces
a large part of the dorsal ridge in the Rechna Drab;
thence it stretches across the Chenab into the Fhsvlral
abseem.
wedge of land between that river and the Jhelum,
whose waters join the Chenab a few miles below the town of.Jhang;
while westward again the boundary runs, beyond the joint river, some
distance into the THALor desert of the Sind-Saga, Doab. Southward
the District stretches almost to the confluence of the Chenab with
the Ravi, but does not actually reach the latter river. Along the
e strips of fertile lowland, rising, with a more or less defined
bank into the uplands of the Dabs. The Bar or upland plain of
The Rechna Doab, until recently a desert inhabited only by nomad
tribes, has been changed into one of the most fertile tracts in India
by. the Cueane CANAL. The nomads of the Bar and immigrants
from other parts of the Province have been settled on the newly
irrigated land; and, for the proper administration of the tract, it has
been found necessary to divide Jhang District into. two, the eastem
end south-eastem portions being formed into a separate. District with
its headquarters at LYALLPOx. The present article, for the most
part, describes JhAng as it existed before the change.
North-west of the Cbenab, the upland, which runs like a wedge
between the lowlands of the Chenab and Jhelum, and w
desert like the Bar of the Rechna Doab, is being fertilized by the
Jtretuar CANAL. West of the Jhelum river the alluvial plain after
a few miles rises abruptly into the desert of the SindSAgar Thal.
With the exception of some isolated low hills on either side of the
Chenab at Kinfina and Chiniot, the District is almost flat.
Jhang consists entirely of alluvium, with the exception of two small
patches of quartzite which form the Kind- and Chiniot bills. These
are geologically interesting, as probably belonging to the Alwar quartzite
of the Delhi system, and thus constituting the most northerly known
outcrops of rocks of Peninsular type.
Before the foundation of the Chenab Canal and Colony, the District
was the gar tract par -elleare; but the flora of that tract is fast giving
way to close cultivation, and saltworts are being driven out by irriga-
tion. The annual weeds, however, are still mainly those of the West
Punjab flora. Along the rivers are found the usual coverts (bias)
of reed-gus es (S chansm, &c.) and the lesser tamarisks (Thai, and
pilht). The date-palm is grown near the Jhelum, but. the produce
is usually inferior.
The wolf, hyena, and wild cat are found in decreasing numbers es
cultivation advances. Wild hog and ' vine deer' (Indian gazelle)
are confined to the wilder parts of the lowlands.
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