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made over to Raja Gulab Singh as a reward for
his services, on payment of 75 lakhs of rupees.
Maharaja Gulab Singh began life as a horseman in
a troop commanded by Jemadar Khushal Singh,
and became governor of the principality of Jammu
under Sikh rule.

He extended his authority into Ladakh. The
territories granted to him by the British became the
present state of Kashmir. Subsequently, the portion
of Chamba territory lying east of the Ravi was taken
by the British in exchange for the taluka of Lukhimpura;
 and in 1847, Budrwar was resigned to the
Maharaja, and the rest of the Chamba territory was
resigned by him,
The Maharaja is an honoured tributary of the
British government, and his authority extends over
an area of some 68,000 square miles, and over a
population of close upon 2,000,000 souls. His revenue
amounts to about Rs. 8,500,000; a British officer
is attached to the state, but it is independent so far as
internal administration is concerned. Its foreign relations
 are entirely controlled by the sovereign power.

Hill States.

Following along the Himalayan boundary there
sxists a chain of protected hill states, varying greatly
as to their area and the extent of their autonomy.
Previous to the Nipal war in 1841, the Goorkhas had
extended their conquests westwards as far as the
Sutlej. By a treaty made in 1815 the Nipal govern-