HANSI

hansi, a town of british india, in the hissar district of the punjab, on a branch of the western jumna canal, with a station on the rewari-ferozepore railway, 16 m. e. of hissar. pop. (1901) 16,523. hansi is one of the most ancient towns in northern india, the former capital of the tract called hariana. at the end of the 18th century it was the headquarters of the famous irish adventurer george thomas; from 1803 to 1857 it was a british cantonment, and it became the scene of a murderous outbreak during the mutiny. a ruined fort overlooks the town, which is still surrounded by a high brick wall, with bastions and loop holes. it is a centre of local trade, with factories for ginning and pressing cotton.