Darbhangah

Darbhangah, the chief town of Darbhangah district, in Behar province, on the Little Baghmati River, 78 miles NE. of Patna by rail. It has large bazaars and a handsome market-place, extensive tanks, a hospital, and the maharajah's palace, with fine gardens, menagerie, and aviary. There is an active trade in oil-seeds, food-grains, timber, salt, iron, lime, &c. Population, 73,561.—The district has an area of 3635 sq. m., forming one large alluvial plain, intersected by a network of streams, and covered with wide rice-fields, bamboo, and mango-groves. The rivers flood extensive areas, and fever is endemic. Rice, indigo, linseed, mustard, and tobacco are the chief crops; the manufactures include indigo, sugar, saltpetre, pottery, cloth, and tobacco. Pop. (1872) 2,139,298; (1891) 2,801,955.