JHANG  , a

town and district of British India, in the Multan division of the Punjab . The town, which forms one municipality with the newer and now more important quarter of Maghiana, is about 3 M. from the right bank of the river Chenab . Founded by Mal Khan, a Sial chieftain, in 1462, it long formed the capital of a Mahommedan state . Pop . (Igor), 24,382 . Maghiana has manufactures of leather, soap and metal ware . The DISTRICT OF JHANG extends along both sides of the Chenab, including its confluences with the Jhelum and the Ravi . Area, 3726 sq. in . Pop . (Igor), 378,695, showing an apparent decrease of 13 % in the decade, due to the creation of the district of Lyallpur in 1904 . But actually the population increased by 132 % on the old area, owing to the opening of the Chenab canal and the colonization of the tract irrigated by it . Within Jhang many thousands of acres of government wastehave been allotted to colonists, who are reported to be flourishing .

A

branch of the North-Western railway enters the district in this quarter, extending throughout its entire length . The Southern Jech Doab railway serves the south . The principal industries are the ginning, pressing and weaving of cotton . Jhang contains the ruins of Shorkot, identified with one of the towns taken by Alexander . In modern times the history of Jhang centres in the famous clan of Sials, who exercised an extensive sway over a large tract between Shahpur and Multan, with little dependence on the imperial court at Delhi, until they finally fell before the X11-absorbing power of Ranjit Singh . The Sials of Jhang are Mahommedans of Rajput descent, whose ancestor, Rai Shankar of Daranagar, emigrated early in the 13th century from the Gangetic Doab . In the beginning of the 19th century Maharaja Ranjit Singh invaded Jhang, and captured the Sial chieftain's territory . The latter recovered a small portion afterwards, which he was allowed to retain on payment of a yearly tribute . In 1847, after the establishment of the British agency at Lahore, the district came under the charge of the British government; and in 1848 Ismail Khan, the Sial leader, rendered important services against the rebel chiefs, for which he received a pension . During the Mutiny of 1857 the Sial leader again proved his loyalty by serving in person on the British side . His pension was afterwards increased, and he obtained the title of khan bahadur, with a small jagir for life .