370 NORTH-IVESTERN PROVINCES AND OUDH. The first half-century of the British occupation was a period of peaceful progress. Trade and agriculture rapidly developed. Roads were pushed from end to end of the territory, the Eastern Juinna, Ganges, and Lower Ganges Canals were constructed for the irrigation of the Doáb; the predatory chiefs of Bundelkhand and the Gúrkhas were restrained ; and the chief cities began once more to revive from the lethargy and decay of the 18th century. The Doáb especially rose into a great agricultural and commercial tract, filled with new and growing cities, such as Cawnpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Rúrki (Roorkee), and Saharanpur. This peaceful period was interrupted by the Mutiny of 1857, which first broke out in the North-Western Provinces, and produced more disastrous effects in this tract than in any other part of India. The earliest rising took place at MEERUT, on May 10, 1857. Having massacred their European officers, the mutinous cavalry escaped to Delhi. There they were joined by the infantry, who proclaimed the restoration of the Mughal Empire; and forth with all Hindustan was in a blaze. Within two months, inost of the North - Western Provinces and all Oudh were in the hands of the revolted leaders. The massacre at CAWNPUR, the rising at ALLAHABAD, and the various local mutinies, will be found detailed at length under their proper headings. In September, Delhi was recaptured. Lucknow fell in the following March, and within the course of the year tranquillity was restored. Since the repression of the rebellion, the principal event of importance n the Provinces has been the rapid development of the railway system, which is revolutionizing the commercial condition of the country and opening fresh outlets for the agricultural wealth of Rohilkhand and the Doáb. The territorial changes since the Mutiny have not been numerous. In 1858, the Divisions of Delhi and Hissar were transferred to the Punjab. In January 1859, Lord Canning's Foreign Secretary, Sir G. F. Edmonstone, was appointed to the Lieutenant-Governorship, and during his rule the new government of the Central Provinces was created out of the Sagar and Narbadá territories. Sir G. F. Edinonstone was succeeded in 1863 by the Honourable E. Drunamond, and he again in 1868 by Sir W. Muir. While Sir W. Muir was Lieutenant-Governor, the Districts of Ajmír (Ajmere) and Merwára were detached from the North-Western I'rovinces, and taken directly under the Government of India. Sir J. Strachey succeeded Sir W. Muir in 1874, and after two years was followed by Sir George Couper, the Chief Commissioner of Oudh, who soon after became governor of the combined territories. Sir George Couper retired in 1882, and was succeeded by Sir Alfred Lyall, K.C.B., the present Lieutenant-Governor. Population. The North-Western Provinces with Oudh contained in
