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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 34.

34 UPOHI STATE The only important manufactures are sword-blades, daggers, spears, Trade and knives; and bows made at the capital. Tod wrote communications. that the `sword-blades of Sirohi are as famed among the k,ajputs as those of Damascus among the Persian and Turks.' The chief exports are til, mustard-seed, raw and tanned hides, and ghi, while the chief imports include grain, piece-goods, salt, sugar, metal, tobacco, and opium. These are for the most part carried by the railway. The princ~pal trade centres are Abu Road, Pindwara, Rohera, and Sheoganj, whence a good many of the imported articles are sent by road into the outlying parts of the adjoining States namely, Danta, Idar, Mewar, and Marwar. The Rajputana-Malwa'', Railway runs through the eastern half of the State for about 40 miles, and has six stations. The total length of metalled roads is 20 miles, and of unmetalled roads 224 miles. Of these, i a miles metalled and 132 miles unmetalled are maintained by the Darbar, and the I,rest by the British (xovernment or the Abu municipality. The mostl important road is that connecting Abu with Abu Road; it is 17 miles in length, metalled throughout, and was constructed and is entir ly maintained by Government. The grand trunk road from Agra to Ahmadabad runs for about 68 miles through Sirohi territory; it was!! ,, formerly metalled between Erinpura and Sirohi town, but since the opening of the railway in 1881 has been maintained only as a fair-weather communication. There are ten British post offices and four telegraph offices in the State. Sirohi often suffers from droughts more or less severe, but lies in is neighbour jodhpur, and its wooded hills y attract a fair share of the monsoon clouds. rs 1746, 1785, 1812, 1833, and 1848 are said to have been marked by famine, but no details are available. In 1868-9 there appears to have been scarcity rather than famine in this State, but owing to want of fodder from 50 to 75 per cent. of the cattle died. The late chief (U ed Singh) did all that his means permitted to assist his people and the numerous aliens who passed through on their way to and from the~ neighbouring territories; and, excluding the liberal charity dispensed from His Highness's private purse, the expen- diture on relief appears I to have been about: RS. 25,ooo. Famine prevailed throughout the State in 1899-19oo ; and the Darbar at once threw open the forest Reserves, established dep6ts for the purchase of wood and grass, and sold !grain to the poor at a cheaper rate than that prevailing in the market. I,Systematic relief, in the form of works and poorhouses, was started in January, i 9oo, and continued till October. The total number of unit$ relieved was estimated at about 1,800,000, and the direct expenditure at nearly 1-5 lakhs. A suns of about a more rainy cone than general Famine . The ye