JAORA

jaora, a native state of central india, in the malwa agency. it consists of two isolated tracts, between ratlam and neemuch area, with the dependencies of piplauda and pant piplauda, 568 sq. m. pop. (1901), 84,202. the estimated revenue is £57,000; tribute, £9000. the chief, whose title is nawab, is a mahommedan of afghan descent. the state was confirmed by the british government in 1818 by the treaty of mandsaur. nawab mahommed ismail, who died in 1895, was an honorary major in the british army. his son, iftikhar ali khan, a minor at his accession, was educated in the daly college at indore, with a british officer for his tutor, and received powers of administration in 1906. the chief crops are millets, cotton, maize and poppy. the last supplies a large part of the malwa opium of commerce. the town of jaora is on the rajputana-malwa railway, 20 m. n. of ratlam. pop. (1901), 23,854. it is well laid out, with many good modern buildings, and has a high school and dispensary. to celebrate queen victoria's diamond jubilee, the victoria institute and a zenana dispensary were opened in 1898.