hoj's school was built
out of Hindu remains in the 14th or 15th century: its name is derived
from the slabs, covered with inscriptions giving rules of Sanskrit
grammar, with which it is paved. On a small hill to the north of the
town stands the fort, a conspicuous pile of red sandstone, said to have
been built by Mahommed ben Tughlak of Delhi in the 14th century. It
contains the palace of the raja. Of modern institutions may be mentioned
the high school, public library, hospital, and the chapel, school and
hospital of the Canadian Presbyterian mission. There is also a
government opium depot for the payment of duty, the town being a
considerable centre for the trade in opium as well as in grain.

The town, the name of which is usually derived from Dhara Nagari (the
city of sword blades), is of great antiquity, and was made the capital
of the Paramara chiefs of Malwa by Vairisinha II., who transferred his
headquarters hither from Ujjain at the close of the 9th century.
During the rule of the Paramara dynasty Dhar was famous throughout
India as a centre of culture and learning; but, after suffering
various vicissitudes, it was finally conquered by the Mussulmans at
the beginning of the 14th century. At the close of the century Dilawar
Khan, the builder of the Lat Masjid, who had been appointed governor
in 1399, practically established his independence, his son Hoshang
Shah being the first Mahommedan king of Malwa. Under this dynasty Dhar
was second in importance to the capital Mandu. Subsequently, in the
time of Akbar, Dhar fell under the dominion of the Moguls, in whose
hands it remained till 1730, when it was conquered by the Mahrattas.

See _Imperial Gazetteer of India_ (Oxford, 1908).

[1] Nizam-ud-din, whose beautiful marble tomb is at Indarpat near Delhi,
was, according to some authorities, an assassin of the secret society of
Khorasan. By some modern authorities he is supposed to have been the
founder of Thuggism, the Thugs having a special reverence for his
memory.

DHARAMPUR, a native state of India, in the Surat political agency
division of Bombay, with an area of 704 sq. m. The population in 1901
was 100,430, being a decrease of 17% during the decade; the estimated
gross revenue is L25,412; and the tribute L600. Its chief is a Sesodia
Rajput. The state has been surveyed for land revenue on the Bombay
system. It contains one town, Dharampur (pop. in 1901, 63,449), and 272
villa