Punjab States Gazetteers Vol.12-a Mandi State

· 1908 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

2Mandi State.]

3Descriptive.

4[Part A.

5CHAP. I, B- The most unhealthy time of the year is the latter part of

6TTigtnry autumn wheu tlie inundated soil is drying. In the lower v.-dleys

7malaria is common and in August and September intermittent and

8bilious fevers and bowel complaints are very prevalenr. In winter

9tlie climate of Mandi town and the Ballh valley is far too cold for

10weak constitutions. In the mornings from the middle t)f Decern--

11her to the end of January, a white fog, very dense and cold, rises

12from the Beas and Suket rivers, lasting far into the day. Cases of

13pneumonia are frequent in these months. Diarrhoea and enlarge-

14ment of the spleen are somewhat common diseases, and the people

15are generally weak and pallid.

16Sara], Nachan, Chohar and Sanor, being on a higher level, are

17free from malaria and the inhabitants of these parts show great

18aversion from venturing down to the lower valleys during the

19fever season. They have a common belief that tlie smell of the

20ripening dhan or “ paddy” crops produces fever.

21The climate of the country bordering on Hamirpur Tahsil is

22comparatively healthy and the people of Hath, Anantpur, Kamlah

23and Sandhol are above the average height, strong and hard-

24working.

25Section B.- -History-

26A complete history of Mandi from about 1200 A. D. to 1870

27A. D. is to be found in GriflBn’s “ The Rajas of the Punjab ” This

28chapter is practically a resume of Griffin’s account (with a few

29corrections and extra notes) to which is added a description of the

30administration of the State from 1870 to 1905.

31The gross annual revenue of the State amounts to nearly

32Rs. 4,50,000. 'the ruling family in Mandi is Rajput of the

33Chandra Bansi tribe and is known as Mandial. “ Sen” is the

34name burne by the reigning Chief, the younger members of the

35family are called “ Singh.”

36Raja Sdr Sen, the common ancestor of the ruling houses of

37Mandi and Suket, belonged to the ancient Gaur dynasty which

38succeeded the Pals in Bengal about the middle of the tenth

39century.*'^ The most eminent ruler of the Sena dynasty was

40Lakshman Sen. He is said to have extended his conquests to

41Kanauj, Nepal and Orissa and to have founded Gaur in Malda,

42which he himself called Lakhnauti after his own name. One of

43(l)In the Encyclopeedia Britaunica the eleventh centniy is given brt Letl Iridge menthns

44a Sena king named Adisura who reigned in 964 &. D. Ltthlridge is prili bly ciiic ci as the

45Senas reigned for about two centuries before they weie coi qnend by the Slare tinge.