Hirschberg was in existence in the 11th century, and obtained town rights in 1108 from Boleslaus ILI. of Poland." It withstood a siege by the Hussites in 1427, and an attack of the imperial troops in 1640. 'The foundation 'of its prosperity was laid in the 16th century by the introduction of the manufacture of Tinen and veils.
HIRTIUS, Aulus, one of Czsar's chief supporters and most intimate friends. He was with him as degatus in Gaul. After the civil war broke out in 49 b.c., he seems to have been generally stationed in Rome to protect Cxesar's interests there. He was a personal friend of Cicero, and used his influence with Casar in behalf of the orator's brother and nephew. He was nominated along with Pansa by Cxsar for the consulship of 43 b.c.; and after the dictator's assassination in March 44, this honour made him for a short time one of the leading actors in that troubled time. The consuls supported the senatorial party against Antony, and led their armies into Umbria, where Antony was blockading Dec. Brutus in Mutina. On March 27th a double battle was fought: in the first Antony had the upper hand, and Pansa was mortally wounded; and in the second Hirtius completely defeated the enemy, but was himself killed in the subsequent assault on the enemy's camp. Hirtius was perhaps an author: the eighth book of Czsar's commentaries on the Gallic war, which was certainly not written by Cxsar himself, is commonly attributed to him; and the accounts of the Alexandrian, African, and Spanish wars are perhaps also due to his pen.
HISPANIOLA. See Hayti.
HISSÁR, a British district belonging to the division of the same name,[1] in the lieutenant-governorship of the Punjab, India, lying between 28° 36' and 29° 49" N, lat., and between 75° 16' and 76° 22' E. long. It is bounded on the N. and N.W. by the Patiila state and a small portion of the British district of Sirsa, on the E. and 8. by the territory of Jhind and the British district of Rohtak, and on the W. by the deserts of Bikaner. Area, 3539 square miles; population (1868), 484,681.
Hissér forms the western border district of the great Bikaner desert, and consists for the most part of sandy plains dotted with shrub and brushwood, and broken by undulations towards the south, which rise into hills of rock like islands out of a sea of sand. 'The Ghaggar is its only river, whose supply is uncertain, depending much on the fall of rain in the lower Himélayas; its overflow in times of heavy rain is caught near Fatehabéd and Murakhera by jhils, which dry up in the hot season. A canal, known as the Western Jumna Canal, crosses the district from east to west, irrigating 54 villages. The soil is in places hard and clayey, and difficult to till; but when sufficiently irrigated it is highly productive. Old mosques and other buildings exist in parts of the district.
Rice is the staple crop of the district. In favourable seasons, cotton is extensively grown in lands irrigated by the Western Jumna Canal. "In 1872-73, 1,431,541 acres were under tillage, out of an assessed area of 2,265,428 acres. Hiss4r produces a breed of milk-white oxen, 17 or 18 hands in height, which are in great request for the carriages of natives. The district has always been subject to famine. The first calamity of this kind of which we have authentic record was the famine of 1783; since then there have been several more or less serious failures of the crops.
The principal exports are oil-seeds, gram, grains, copper and brass utensils, hides, and a little cotton; the imports —salt, sugar, fine rice, cotton goods of English make, spices, and iron. The exports are double the imports in value. The rural manufactures comprise coarse cotton cloth, vessels made of prepared skins, and copper and brass vessels. The annual out-turn of rough saltpetre is esti- mated at 450 maunds. The trade of the district centres in Bhawani, where nine lines of traffic converge. The main road, about 50 feet wide, unmetalled, traverses the district, passing through Hansi and Hissir towns; four- teen other roads supply communication. The census of 1868 returned the population at 484,681 (males, 266,847; females, 217,834). The Hindus numbered 373,937; Mahometans, 102,928; Sikhs, 1812; and " others," 6004, There are three municipalities, viz, Bhawéni, 32,254; Hissir, 14,133; and Hansi, 13,563. The district police numbered 396 men in 1872-73, and the municipal police 174. In the same year there were 50 schools, with 1729 scholars. The climate of Hissir is very dry; hot westerly winds blow from the middle of March till July. The average rainfall for the six years 1867-68 to 1872-73 was 1457 inches. The principal diseases are fevers and small- pox. Cholera occasionally breaks out. Skin diseases also are common, Government dispensaries are situated at Bhawani and Hansi.
Prior to the Mahometan conquest, the semi-desert traet of which Hissir district now forms part was the retreat of Chauhdn Rajputs. 'Towards the end of the 18th century, the Bhattis of Bhattiina gained ascendency after bloody struggles, To complete the ruin brought on by these conflicts, nature lent her aid in the great famine of 1783. Hisedr passed nominally to the British in 1803, but they could not enforce order till 1810. Early in the mutiny of 1857 Hissir was wholly lost for a time to British rule, and all Europeans were either murdered or compelled to fly. 'The Bhattis rose under their hereditary chiefs, and the majority of the Mahome- tan population followed their example. Before Delhi had been recovered, the rebels were utterly routed.
Hissár, municipal town and administrative head- quarters of the above district, 29° 9' 51" N. lat, 75° 45' 55" E. long.; population (1868), 14,133 (Hindus 9211, Mahometans 4805, Sikhs 34, Christians 83). The town is situated on the Western Jumna Canal, 102 miles W. of Delhi. It was founded in 1354 by the emperor Firoz Shah, who constructed the canal to supply it with water; but this fell into decay during the last century, owing to the constant inroads of marauders. Hissir was almost completely depopulated during the famine of 1783, but was afterwards occupied by the adventurer George 'Thomas, who built a fort and collected inhabitants. It contains a cattle farm, both for commissariat purposes and for improv- ing the breed of the province; attached is an estate of 43,287 acres for pasturage. There is an import trade in grain, ghi, sugar, oil, cotton, tobacco, and English piece goods. 'The municipal revenue in 1875-76 was £1229.
- ↑ The division of Hissar is under a commissioner, and comprises the ricts of Hissir, Rohtak, and Sirsa. Area, 8478 square miles Population (1868), 1,232,435.
