in several districts. This country is, besides, remarkable | sea-level, but it sirks in some places even to 2,600 ft. for the great number of large lakes which are met with over its whole surface. The most remarkable are the Balkash, which is said to extend from 120 to 140 miles from N. to S., the Issekul or Temurti, which is half as long, the Ala-kul, Zaisan, Kijilbash Noör, Ike-Aral Noor, Ubra Noör, and a great number of smaller ones. Except the Zaisan, they have no outlets, and the water of none of them arrives at the sea. Another remarkable circumstance is the occurence of volcanoes, at a distance of about 1,000 miles from the sea. For, besides the volcanoes noticed in the Thian-Shan range, there occur others to the N. of the chain, and one is found on an island in the Lake of Ala-kul.

It runs E. as far as 1160 E. long., passing about 150 miles to the north of Canton; it then inclines to the N.E., in which direction it continues with a slight bend to the W. to its termination on the sea, near the harbour of Ningpo, opposite the islands of Chusan. Several summits of this range rise above the snow-line, W. of 110° E. long., and here it extends also to a considerable width. East of 110° E. long. no snow-capped summits occur, though some rise to a great elevation, but every where the descent of the range is steep and rugged.

The country lying between the Kho-thsing-Shan and the Tapa-ling is full of high and extensive mountain. masses, and intersected by valleys, which are very narrow, except two which are drained by the Wei-ho, a tributary of the Hoang-ho, and by the Kan kiang, a branch of Yang-tse-kiang. These are wide, and afford large tracts for agricultural purposes. The large tract, which extends between the Tapa-ling and the Nan-ling, is traversed by many ridges of mountains and hills, which mostly branch off from the last-mentioned range, but these elevations rise only to a moderate height, and the gentle declivities are mostly cultivated. Besides, they are separated from one another by very wide valleys, which frequently are intersected by pretty extensive plains, that every where recompense the industry of the careful cultivator. They are, in fact, hardly inferior in fertility to the great Chinese Plain.

traversed by high ranges, and not to exhibit the large plains which occur farther W. In Tibet is the lake Palte, which has a large island in its centre, so that the lake has the form of a ring. The Yaroo-Zangbo-tsiu, or Sampu river, runs through this country from W. to E., and after a course of more than 1,000 miles, breaks through the chain of the Himalaya range, about 95 E. long., and joins the Brahmapoutra under the name of Di-hong. The table-land of Yu-nan, which forms the most southerly portion of the great table-land of Eastern Asia, has an extremely diversified surface, being a succession of mountains which in some places rise above the snow-line, and of valleys, which, however, frequently widen to small plains. The climate indicates a consider able elevation above the sea-level, but it is not so high as to preclude agriculture, corn being raised in the valleys and plains, and in some districts rice. Towards the N.W., however, it rises much higher, as there the rearing of cattle forms the principal occupation of the inhabitants, who have herds of chowry-tailed cattle (Bos grunniens,) which are only found in very cold countries. 3. Countries lying to the East of the Table-land of Eastern Asia. — East of the desert of Gobi extends Shing-king, or Manchooria (the country of the Manchoos), to the coasts of the Pacific. It is divided from the desert by the Khing-khan mountains, which on the side of the desert are destitute of wood, but towards Manchooria are covered with fine forest-trees, among which oak is This great plain occupies the N.E. part of China, exfrequent. The N. boundary is formed by the Yablonoi tending in length 700 miles from the Great Wall, N. of Khrebet, or Khing-khan Tugurick. From this range (56° | Pe-king, to the confluence of the rivers Yang-tse-kiang N. lat.) it extends to the neighbourhood of the Hoang- and Kan-kiang, near 30° N. lat. Its breadth is various. Hai, or Yellow Sea (41° N. lat.); from which it is divided North of 35° N., where it partly extends to the shores of only by a range of hills. But in advancing farther E. the Hoang-hai, and partly borders on the W. declivity these hills rise to a high mountain-chain, the Chang-pe- of the Chang-tung mountains, a low range, occupying Shan, or Shan Alin, which attains the snow-line where the peninsula of that name, the width of the plain varies it runs on the boundary between Manchuria and the between 150 and 250 m. Between 35° and 34° N. lat. the peninsula of Corea. It then approaches the coast and plain enlarges, and in the parallel of the Hoang-ho it runs so close along it as to leave only at some places a extends more than 300 m. E. and W. Farther S. it very narrow stripe of low country until it terminates at grows still wider, and reaches nearly 500 m. inland, in the mouth of the river Amur, opposite the Yablonoi the parallel of the mouth of the river Yang-tse-kiang. Khrebet. Along this coast the mountain-chain rises with This large plain, though the N. districts have mostly a great steepness to from 4,000 to 5,000 ft. above the sea. sandy soil, and the E., between the embouchures of the The countries enclosed by these mountain-ranges ex- Hoang-ho and Yang-tse-kiang, are partly covered with hibit different characters. The S.W. part of it, N. of swamps, is, perhaps, the best cultivated and most popu. the river Sira Muren, or Leao-ho, is a desert, and may be lous portion of the globe, producing abundance of rice, considered as part of the Gobi, which here projects cotton, wheat, and tobacco, &c. It contains at least beyond its natural boundary, the Khing-khan range. It 210,000 sq. m., so that it is seven times as large as has a scanty vegetation, and is only inhabited by nomadic the most fertile plain of Europe, that of Lombardy. nations. E. of it, and as far N. as the Amur river, the The internal communication of this fertile tract is country is traversed by ridges of mountains and hills, rendered easy by the Great or Imperial Canal, which between which, however, spacious valleys extend, whose traverses it from S. to N., and whose length exceeds fertile soil is in some places well cultivated, and yields 500 m. in a straight line, but probably its whole length rich crops. The mountains and hills are partly covered is not less than 700 m. It is, also, traversed by the lower with trees, and partly afford rich pasture-walks for courses of the two great rivers of China, the Hoang-ho numerous herds of cattle and sheep. The climate of and the Yang-tse-kiang, which flow through it from this portion of Manchooria is very temperate. N. of the W. to E. The Hoang-ho runs upward of 2,000, and the river Amur the whole country is covered with mountain-Yang-tse-kiang more than 2,900 miles, if their bends be masses, intersected by narrow valleys. Here agriculture taken into account. ceases, and cattle forin the principal riches of the inhabitants, who also apply themselves industriously to the chace of animals affording furs, of which there is a great abundance. The principal river is the Amur, whose upper branch, the Argoun, runs through the N.E. districts of the Gobi, and after entering the mountains joins the Shilka, when the river is called Amur, or Sakhalien. The whole course of this river does not fall short of 2,000 miles.

The peninsula of Corea is separated from Manchooria by the Chang-re-shan, and from this range another branches off to the S., which runs close to the E. shores, towards which it descends with great rapidity, and in these districts the level or cultivable tracts are of small extent. The numerous offsets to the W., which are less steep and elevated, contain between them large and wellcultivated valleys. But the whole country seems to have a considerable elevation above the sea-level, as its climate is very cold, its N. rivers being covered with ice for 4 months; yet rice, cotton, and silk, are produced in abundance.

China Proper occupies the remainder of the countries lying between the Great Table-land of Eastern Asia and the Pacific. Several mountain-ranges issuing from those that surround it, traverse its interior. Where the InShan and the Khing-Khan meet, stands a high summit, the Petsha, more than 16,000 ft. above the sea-level, and from it a chain runs first S. W., and then S., 400 m., and terminates at the last great bend of the Hoang-ho. It is called Kho-thsing-Shan, and though high, does not rise to the snow-line. Near 34° N. lat. two ranges branch off from the Yun-ling, the Peling (northern range) and the Tapa-ling, and they continue as high mountain-chains as far E. as 111° or 1120 E. long., when they sink down to hills. These ranges contain some snow-capped summits towards the W., and are steep and rugged. From the E. side of the table-land of Yu-nan branches off another range, called Nan-ling (southern range), which constitutes the most extensive mountain-system in China

4. Countries lying to the South of the Great Table-land of Eastern Asia. — This region comprises the two penin. sulas, which are known in Europe by the name of India within and without the Ganges.

The peninsula without the Ganges is traversed by four mountain-ranges, of which the three farthest east are connected with, or branch off from, the table-land of Yunan, the most southerly extremity of the Great Table-land. The most easterly, which may be called the Anam range, begins at 220 N. lat., and runs S.E. till it approaches the Chinese Sea, near 17° N. lat.; hence, farther south, it proceeds parallel to the shores of that sea, and terminates at Cape St. James (10 15). This range occupies about 100 m. in width; its elevation has not been ascertained, but it seems to be considerable, though far from rising to the snow-line, except, perhaps, where it is connected with the table-land of Yu-nan. Two other mountain-chains branch off from the S.W. side of the same table-land, between 95° and 97° E. long., and run nearly due S., including the narrow valley of the Thaluen river. The most westerly, which may be called the Birmah range, terminates as a chain of considerable elevation at the mouth of the Thaluen river; the other, which runs to the E. of that river, and may be called the Shan or Siam range, continues farther S., but gradually declining in height till it disappears entirely N. of the most narrow part of the peninsula of Malacca, the isthmus of Krah (11° 30′ N. fat.): for the low mountains, which occupy the interior of the S. part of that peninsula, are not connected with it.

Between the Anam range and the Gulph of Tonkin lies a large plain, that of Tonkin, about 100 m. in length and width: it is low, level, and extremely fertile, especially as far as it can be irrigated. It is surrounded on the N. and W. by very fertile valleys, and traversed by the river Song-ca, which rises on the table-land of Yunan, and runs in an E.S.E. direction probably more than 700 m. The plain of Tonkin terminates between 190 and 200 N. lat: farther S. the offsets from the Anam

Between this range and the Himalaya mountains extends the valley of Asam, or of the Brahmapoutra, one of the largest in Asia: its length exceeds 400 m., and in width it varies between 30 and 50 m. Its soil is very fertile, and the climate such as to bring to perfection nearly all productions cultivated between the tropics; but here also the too great abundance of water retards the progress of agriculture and the increase of the population. The Brahmapoutra runs more than 500 m. through the centre of this valley, and is here joined by the Di-hong, which, under the name of Sampu, or Ya-tility of the soil decreases as we advance higher up the roo-Zangbo-tsiu, flows through the plains of Tibet, and has run a course of more than 1,000 m. before it reaches the Brahmapoutra. Issuing from the valley of Asam,

number of elephants, tigers, and other animals. It is uninhabited, on account of its unhealthiness, the surface in the rainy season being converted into an immense swamp; but between November and March it may be visited without danger. The people inhabiting its borders are disfigured by goftres.

The river which drains this plain, the Ganges, rises in the highest and most northerly range of the Himalaya mountains, bordering on the table-land of the sacred lakes of Manassa, Rowarra, and of Hrawan Hrad. Its several sources unite before it issues from the mountains at Hurdwar. It soon begins to change its W. into a S. and south-easterly course. In the latter direction it traverses the upper part of the plain. But from its junction with the Jumna it runs E. to the neighbourhood of Rajamahal, where it again turns to the S. E., and soon after begins to form its extensive delta, dividing in a great number of branches, of which the most easterly and principal falls into the Bay of Bengal, a few miles W. of the mouth of the Brahmapoutra; but the western mouth, called the Hooghly, is in a straight line 180 m. distant from it. All rivers descending from the Himalaya mountains, between 780 and 90° E. long., increase its waters, and most of them inundating the lands contiguous to their banks during the rainy season, contribute to increase the fertility of the plain. The course of the Ganges exceeds 1,300 m.

tracts of country which separate these plains and extend to the plain of the Ganges, have a very broken surface, which on the E., in Harraoutee, rises in steep and rugged hills, but farther W., in Bundlecund, presents more gentle acclivities, and wider, as well as more fertile, valleys. The rivers which drain these countries fall into the Jumna, a tributary of the Ganges.

The peninsula of Gujerat, lying opposite the mouth of the rivers Nerbudda and Tapty, is united to the continent of Hindostan by an isthmus more than 50 m. long, between the southern part of the salt morass called the Runn and the Bay of Ĉambay. This isthmus is so low that, in the rainy season, the waters of both gulphs unite and convert the peninsula into an island. The districts contiguous to this isthmus, as well as those bordering on the gulphs of Cambay and Cutch, have an undulating surface, and contain extensive tracts of fertile and well cultivated land. The lands along the western coast are rather level, but their surface is stony, covered with little earth, and not fertile. The interior of the peninsula, and all the districts along the southern coast, have a very broken surface, and are mostly covered with bare rocks, but contain a number of fertile valleys. The mountains in the centre of the peninsula attain a moderate elevation. The whole is well supplied with running water, except the north western extremity, but is destitute of wood, except on the hills along the southern coast.

The plain of the Indus is somewhat less in extent, and greatly inferior in fertility. It extends in length about Contiguous to the eastern extremity of the Vindhya 600 m., and in width 300 at an average. Its surface may mountains, but S. of them (between 81° and 83° E. long., cover an area of 180,000 sq. m. Its N. part is called the and 22° and 23° N. lat.), the country rises to a considerPenj-ab (country of five rivers), from being watered by able elevation, probably to more than 5,000 ft. It is five large rivers, which afterwards join the Indus. This overtopped by numerous summits which rise 2,000 ft. tract is commonly very fertile along the watercourses, higher. This rugged country, which seems to constitute and there are even, between the rivers, districts whose a mountain-knot, from which ridges and rivers run out soil recompenses the labour of the husbandman; but in in all directions, is called Omerkuntuk. The most general they have a light soil, which frequently passes considerable of these rivers is the Nerbudda, which into sterile sand or clay. This description also applies runs westward in a deep valley, overhung on the N. for the most part to the tract of land which lies on the by the steep acclivities of the Vindhya mountains, and right of the river, between it and the ranges which se- bounded on the S. by another range, the S. Sautpoora parate it from the table-land of Iran. But on the left mountains. This valley, which is wide, except at its of the Indus extends an immense sandy desert, which in eastern extremity, and of considerable fertility, is conthe N. is called Maroost'hali, or the Great Desert, and sidered as the boundary line between Hindostan Proper, to the S. Thur, or the Little Desert. It extends over the lying N., and the Deccan, extending S. to Cape delta of the Indus, and occupies nearly half the whole Comorin. The length of the valley, and of the river, plain. At its southern extremity is the Runn, an ex- is about 600 m. Similar is the valley in which the tensive salt morass, connected with the Gulph of Cutch. Tapty runs along the southern declivity of the Sautpoora In the desert also occur smaller lakes and marshes, in mountains, parallel to the Nerbudda, but its course which salt is produced. It is only inhabited in a few does not much exceed 300 m. places, where rocks protrude through the sand, having their surface covered with scanty grass. The Indus, which drains this plain, has its sources near those of the Ganges; descending through the spacious valley of Leh or Ladak; it breaks through the mountains at the north-western extremity of the Himalaya range. Its whole course amounts to upwards of 1,500 m.

Where the two plains of the Ganges and Indus meet, in the parallel of Delhi, between 76° and 77° E. long., begin the mountainous countries of Hindostan, which extend to its most southern extremity, Cape Comorin (near 80 S. lat.). This immense tract may be divided into two triangles, connected at their bases at the Vindhya mountains, which extend between 22 and 230 from the Bay of Cambay, to the plain of the Ganges, N. W. of Calcutta. This chain is of moderate elevation, its highest summits probably not exceeding 3,000 ft. above the sea, and the most frequented of its mountain-passes, that of Jaum, only rising to 2,328 ft. At its western extremity, about 30 m. from the Bay of Cambay, it is connected with another chain, the Aravulli range, which first runs N., in broken masses, up to the vicinity of 24° N. lat., but farther N. forms a continuous range, running N. N. E. It descends westward, with a steep declivity, to the desert of Maroost'hali, and prevents the sand of that district from encroaching on the fertile country lying farther E. Its average elevation probably does not exceed 3,000 ft., though some summits rise higher, and the Aboo or Aboda Peak (between 24° and 250), even to more than 5,000 ft. These two chains, the Vindhya mountains and the Aravulli range, constitute two sides of the northern triangle, and from them the country gradually lowers, until it meets the plain of the Ganges, not far from the banks of the Jumna. Contiguous to the mountains are two considerable plains the table-land of Malwa, well known by its extensive plantations of opium, skirts the northern declivity of the Vindhya mountains for about 300 m., and has an average breadth of 50 m. Near the mountains its elevation is between 1,800 and 1,900 ft. above the sea level; but towards the N. it imperceptibly lowers to less than 1,300 ft. The table-land of Mawar extends along the Aravulli range; it is between 150 and 180 m. long, from S. to N., and from 70 to 100 m. wide. Its elevation near the mountains is about 2,000 ft. above the sea, but on its eastern border it sinks to 1,400 ft. In fertility it is much inferior to the plain of Malwa; it produces different kinds of grain, but little rice. The

To the S. and S. E. of Omerkuntuk, between the lower part of the plain of the Ganges, and as far S. as the course of the river Godavery, extends a tract of country whose elevation above the sea has not been determined; but the comparatively low temperature of the air, and the healthiness of the climate, seem to indicate that it must be between 3,000 and 4,000 ft. Its surface is broken; the hills rise to 2,000 ft. above it, but they are separated from each other by wide valleys, and frequently by plains of moderate extent and indifferent fertility, except along the foot of the ridges, where the soil commonly is rich. The eastern border of this rugged table-land is formed by a chain of mountains, which does not seem to rise considerably above it, but they are so steep as to be almost impassable for horse or wheeled carriages. Their distance from the sea varies between 60 and 80 m. The narrow tract lying between them and the sea is called the Circars. It is not a level, but commonly a succession of hills and dales; thoughthere occur some levels of considerable extent. Its soil along the sea-coast is generally sandy, but it improves gradually towards the mountains; and produces abundant crops of cotton, tobacco, and grain; including rice, when artificially irrigated.

On the mountain-knot of Omerkuntuk rises the river Mahanuddy, which traverses this broken country in an E. S. E. direction nearly in the middle. It falls into the Bay of Bengal, after a course of more than 500 m., and forms at its mouth an extensive delta.

South of the mouth of the river Tapty, and nearly in its parallel, rises suddenly from the plain a continuous mountain range called the Ghauts, extending southward as far as the river Ponany (11° S. lat.), through 10° of lat. In some parts it is 30 or even 40 m. distant from the sea; in others it constitutes its very shores. It rises abruptly with a steep ascent from the low coast, and attains a mean elevation of from 4,000 to 5,000 ft. ; but some of its summits rise much higher. The highest portion are the Neilgherry hills (11 S. lat.), which are more than 9,000 ft. above the sea; the Liliandumale (12° N. lat.) is above 5,500 ft.; and the Subramuni (12° 30′) above 5,400 ft. In many points, the range sinks down to less than 2,000 ft., and over these depressions lead the ghauts or mountain-passes; whose name has been transferred to the range itself.

The narrow tract of country which intervenes between this range and the sea-coast is called Malabar. It is mostly occupied by the short offsets of the Ghauts, which

preserve their character of steepness, but Include small valleys which display a vigorous vegetation. The narrow tract of level land along the sea, which seldom exceeds 3 m. in width, and is in general much less, is separated from the sea by low downs; this gives them the advantage of irrigation during the rainy season. The fresh water descending from the mountains has no vent, and must therefore stagnate until it evaporates: hence these tracts produce much rice, though their soil is poor, consisting chiefly of sand.

The Neilgherry hills constitute the S. extremity of the Ghauts, which are called the W. Ghauts, to distinguish them from another chain of mountains, called the E. Ghauts. The last-mentioned mountains begin on the banks of the river Cavery (11° 20′ N. lat.) and extend thence, first in a N. E. direction, as far as 13° N. lat., where, opposite the town of Madras, they turn to the N., and continue so to the banks of the river Kistua (near 17° N. lat.). Between this river and the Godavery are a range of hills, which connects them with the mountains which separate the Circars from the elevated country lying further W. The E. Ghauts do not form an uninterrupted chain, being at several places broken by the rivers which rise on the E. declivities of the W. Ghauts, and descend to the Bay of Bengal. They also do not form one mass; but are frequently divided in several ridges, by longitudinal valleys. These mountains do not rise to the elevation of the W. Ghauts; yet to the W. of Madras, the Nalla Malla mountains attain 3,000 ft. and more, and farther S. (near 12°) the Sherwahary mountains rise to 4,935 ft.

The extensive country enclosed between the two ridges of the Ghauts is an elevated table-land. Its surface extends nearly in a level, which is only here and there broken by short ridges or groups of hills, rising a few hundred it. above it. Its elevation above the level of the sea, where it is contiguous to the W. Ghauts, varies between 2,000 and 3,000 ft., and thus it may continue to the middle of the table-land; but it sinks in approaching the E. Ghauts, where, in most places, it has barely 1,000 ft. or less of elevation. Its soil is rather fertile, and well adapted to the culture of rice, where it can be irrigated, and where not, it produces abundance of wheat and other grain. The S. part is called the table-land of Mysore, and the N. that of Balaghaut.

fully intersected by inlets of the sea, which often run for great length parallel to the coast, receiving the various mountain streams, and communicating with the ocean by different shallow and narrow openings. Between Cochin and Quilon these lakes form a continual series, being united to one another by short channels, and affording an easy means of communication. The low country, which extends for some miles inland from these lakes, has a good soil, and, being abundantly watered, gives very rich crops of rice and other tropical productions. Still more vigorous is the vegetation in the valleys which are enclosed by the offsets of the mountains, but they are not cultivated with equal care. The low coast is here exposed to a continual and very heavy swell from the ocean, and can only be visited by vessels during the north-east monsoon (from Oct. to May).

The plain and nearly level country, which on the E. of the Southern Ghauts extends to an average width of of between 70 and 80 m., is partly covered with extensive forests and partly with cultivated fields, yielding rich crops of rice their irrigation is rendered easy by the numerous small rivers. Along the shores of the Gulph of Manaar and of the Palk Strait are a great number of salt swamps and lagunes, which mostly communicate with one another. Between them and the sea are sand downs, which in some places extend to several miles across. The stagnating water renders these places very unhealthy.

Deccan, being placed between two seas and the conflict of the monsoons, is always cooled by sea breezes. Its surface being formed by a series of terraces, and lying within the tropics, enjoys all the advantages of tropical countries, without partaking of their disadvantages. On the sultry coast the luxuriance of vegetation is displayed in the cocoa-palm, the mango-tree, the cinnamonlaurel, and the pine-apple; it thence passes through forests of teak-trees to the table-land of Mysore and of Balaghaut, and still higher, on the cool summit of the mountains, it offers the fruit-trees and corn-fields of Europe, flax plantations, and rich meadows.

5. The Hindoo-Coosh.-The N. W. extremity of the plain of the Indus is only about 300 m. distant from the plains drained by the Daría Amu, which form the southern districts of the level country that extends S. of the great depression, in which the Caspian Sea and the Lake of Aral are placed. This tract, between the S. and N. plains, is occupied by a mountain system, called the Hindoo Coosh, which, like an isthmus, connects the great tableland of Eastern Asia with Iran, the most easterly of the table-lands of Western Asia. The whole tract is occupied by high and steep ranges, running in every direction, but the principal of them runs E. and W., and seems to be a prolongation of that high chain which is called on the great table-land of Eastern Asia, the Kuen-luen range. Many summits in this range rise far beyond the line of congelation. One of them, the Son Tchookesur, N. E. of the town of Peshawer, is at least 22,500 ft. high; but that snow-capped enormous mass, which properly is called the Hindoo-Coosh, seems to attain a much greater elevation. The valleys of this mountain region are but narrow, except that in which the river of Caubul flows, which is of considerable breadth. The mountains present mostly naked rocks on their steep declivities, but afford pasture ground where the slopes are more gentle. Some parts of them are well wooded.

The Eastern Ghauts are at a distance of about 150 m. from the sea, or coast of Coromandel. The surface of the intervening country extends mostly in wide plains, which here and there are interspersed by hills of no great elevation. The soil is dry, light and sandy, but nevertheless it gives rich crops, wherever it is irrigated, which is rendered easy by the great number of rivers descending from the Western Ghauts, or originating in the Eastern Ghauts. The coast is low, sandy, and without harbours, surrounded by shoals, and exposed to a very heavy swell, which renders it extremely dangerons during the north-eastern monsoon. Europeans have, however, preferred it to other parts of India, having formed here more settlements than any where else. Three large rivers descend from the eastern declivity of the Western Ghauts through the table-land of Mysore and Balaghaut, to this coast, and fall into the Bay of Bengal. The most southerly is the Cavery, which runs about 450 miles. Farther N. is the Kistna, or Krisha, and the Godavery, the former flowing about 600 the latter 700 miles. These rivers, though in many parts very valuable for Western Asia, or the countries lying west of the plain irrigating the contiguous lands, are only navigable in the of the Indus, the Hindoo-Coosh mountains, and the low plain of the Carnatic. On the table-land they in gene-plains of Bokhara, is, like Eastern Asia, an elevated tableral have little water, and where they break through the land, but each differs considerably from the other. Eastern Ghauts, they are broken by numerous rapids and Whilst in Eastern Asia the table-land forms one mass, cataracts. extending in all directions, that of Western Asia has nearly in its middle and in the direction of its greatest extent, from S. E. to N. W., a deep depression, which at its south-eastern extremity, where it is occupied by the Gulph of Persia, varies between 30 and 200 m. in width, but farther to the N. W. extends over the basin of the river Euphrates and the adjacent desert, so as to be from 200 to 500 m. across. The whole length of this depression, from Cape Ras el Had (Sat), the southeastern point of Arabia, to Romkala, where the Euphrates issues from the mountains and enters the plain, does not fall short of 1,500 m. in a straight line. On the N. E. of this depression is the table-land of Iran, the mountain-region of Armenia, and the table-land of Asia Minor; the latter projects far beyond the depression. On the S. W. of it is the table-land of Arabia, which latter is connected with the table-land of Asia Minor, by the mountain-range of Soristan (Syria), whose mountains separate the north-western part of the lowlands from the Mediterranean Sea. Besides, the table-lands of Western Asia do not rise to so high an elevation as the southern portion of the table-land of Eastern Asia: they attain only the height of the northern region, but being placed farther to the S., and nearer the sea, they enjoy a better climate and are more adapted to agricultural purposes. It is also to be observed that the table-lands of Western Asia descend almost every where with a steep

On the parallel of the embouchure of the Cavery river, (110 N. lat.), the peninsula may be traversed without passing any mountain. Here exists a great depression in the Western Ghauts, called the Gap of Coimbatore. The narrowest passage is at the fortress of Animally (77° E. long.), where the level low country between two mountain-ranges presents a valley about 12 miles wide. The elevation of the highest part of this gap is only 400 ft. above the sea level. The whole country in this district is covered with large forest-trees, especially with teak; but during the rainy season it is converted into a

swamp.

To the S. of the Gap of Coimbatore the Ghauts rise again with a very abrupt ascent they attain also a great elevation. The Permaul Peak, situated W. of Dindigul, nearly in the middle between both seas, is 7,367 ft. above the sea level,and according to the statements of the natives the mountains farther W. rise to the snow line. The chain lies here farther from the sea, leaving a low tract from 30 to 40 m. across between them, and runs S. S.W. towards Cape Comorin, terminating abruptly at a distance of about 20 En. m. from the Cape with a huge mass of granite, 2,000 feet high: a low rocky ridge extends to the Cape. The mountains are here covered with thick forests.

The country W. of these Southern Ghauts is wonder