56 SITAPUR DISTRICT
three regiments of native infantry and a regiment of military police
were quartered in Sitapur cantonments. The troops rose on the morn-
ing of June 3, fired on their officers, many of whom were killed, as were
also several military and civil officers with their wives and children in
attempting to escape. Ultimately many of the fugitives succeeded in
reaching Lucknow, while others obtained the protection of loyal zamin-
drirs. On April 13, x858, Sir Hope Grant inflicted a severe defeat on
the rebels near Biswan. Order was completely restored before the end
of that year; the courts and offices were reopened, and since then
nothing has occurred to disturb the peace.
The District contains a number of ancient mounds which still await
examination. A copperplate grant of Gobind Chand of Kanauj was
discovered in 1885, but few objects of interest have been obtained here.
There are some Muhammadan buildings at BISW9N and KHA1RABAD,
and Nimkhar is a famous place of pilgrimage.
Sitapur contains 9 towns and 2,302 villages. Population is rising
steadily. At the four enumerations the numbers were: (1872)
Population. 932,959, (1881) 958,251, (1891) 1,075,413, and
(1901) 1,175,473. There are four tahsils-Si•rAPUR,
BISWAN, SIDHAULI, and MISRIKH - each named from its head-
quarters. The principal towns are the municipalities of SITAPUR,
the District head-quarters, and KHAIRABAD. The following table
gives the chief statistics of population in igoi :-
ro -- Numberof ci -0, ,g ..,
y o
,
Talcsil. G .'. H . .~ a Z 4N~. r
~ Pi o as a a
a m a 8.
Sitapur . 570 _ 608 311,264 546 + 6.9 10,302
3
Biswan 565 r 501 297,277 526 + 9•3 46,12
Sidhauli . 502 2 544 299,492 597 + 11•3 5,727
Misrikh . 613 3 649 267,440 436 + io•o 7,238
District total 2,250 9 2,302 1,175,473 522 + 9.3 29,391
About 85 per cent. of the total are Hindus and nearly 15 per cent.
Musalmans. The District is thickly populated, and the increase be-
tween r89i and igo1 was remarkably large. Eastern Hindi is spoken
by almost the entire population, Awadhi being the ordinary dialect.
The Hindu castes most largely represented are the Chamars (tanners
and cultivators), 159,000; Pasis (toddy-drawers and cultivators),
r30,oo0; Brahmans, 114,000; Ahirs (graziers and cultivators), lo6,ooo;
Kurmis (agriculturists), 89,ooo ; Lodhas (cultivators), 45,000 ; Muraos
(market-gardeners), 39,000; and Rajputs, 41,ooo. Among Musalmans
are Julahas (weavers), 39,000 ; Shaikhs, 21,000; Pathans, 16,ooo ; and
Behnas (cotton-carders), 14,ooo. Agriculture supports 75 per cent. of
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