BAHAWALPUR, or BHAWALPUR  , a native state of India, within the Punjab, stretching for more than 300 M. along the left bank of the Sutlej, the Punjnud and the Indus . It is bounded on the N. and E. by Sind and the Punjab, and on the S. by the Rajputana desert . It is the principal Mahommedan state in the Punjab, ranking second only to Patiala . Edward Thornton thus described the general aspect of the state: " Bahawalpur is a remarkably level country, there being no considerable eminence within its limits, as the occasional sand-hills, seldom exceeding 5o or 6o ft. in height, cannot be considered exceptions . The cultivable part extends along the river line for a distance of about to m. in breadth from the left or eastern bank . In the sandy part of the desert beyond this strip of fertility both men and beasts, leaving the beaten path, sink as if in loose snow . Here, too, the sand is raised into ever-changing hills by the force of the wind sweeping over it . In those parts of the desert which have a hard level soil of clay, a few stunted mimosas, acacias and other shrubs are produced, together with rue, various bitter and aromatic plants, and occasionally tufts of grass . Much of the soil of the desert appears to be alluvial; there are numerous traces of streams having formerly passed over it, and still, where irrigation is at all practicable, fertility in the clayey tract follows; but the rains are scanty, the wells few and generally ioo ft. deep or more." The area covers 15,918 sq. m.; pop . (1901) 720,877, showing an increase of 11 % on the previous decade; estimated gross revenue, 146,700; there is no tribute . The chief, whose title is nawab, is a Mahommedan of the Daudputra family from Sind, and claims descent from Abbas, uncle of, the Prophet . The dynasty established its independence of the Afghans towards the end of the 18th century, and made a treaty with the British in 1838 to which it has always been loyal .

The benefits of

canal irrigation were introduced in the 'seventies, and the revenue thus doubled . The territory is traversed throughout its length by the North-Western and Southern Punjab railways . There are an arts college and Anglo-vernacular schools . The town of Bahawalpur is situated near the left bank of the Sutlej, and has a railway station 65 m. from Mooltan . It has a magnificent palace, which is visible from far across the Bikanir desert; it was built in 1882 by Nawab Sadik Mahommed Khan . Pop . (1901) 18,546 .