178 DR FRANCIS HAMILTON on the Plants of India, 



and Caparides, almost all armed with prickles or thorns, while 

 the fences are chiefly of naked Euphorbias (Antiquorum and 

 TirucaUi). The most common trees besides the Leguminosae 

 and Rhamni, belong to the tribe of Eleagni and the genus 

 Grewia : and the most common herbage consists of small Cyperus, 

 Scirpus, Andropogon, Convolvulaceae, Acanthaceae, and Legumi- 

 nosae, especiaUy Hedysarum, Crotolaria, and Indigofera, so that 

 the vegetables have little in common with those of Europe, espe- 

 cially of its northern parts. With the more barren parts of 

 southern Europe there is more resemblance, the Rhamni and 

 Caparides being common to both. 



After examining these countries of rigid vegetation, as it may 

 be called, I passed through the gap in the Animaliya or Elephant 

 Mountains, and entered the province called Malabar by Euro- 

 peans, but Kaerula and Malayala by the natives. These, indeed, 

 consider Malabar as an English word, meaning the whole sea- 

 coast between Cape Comorin andSurat, which seems to be the fact. 

 We ought, therefore, to call the province of Malabar by one or 

 other of the native appellations. The territory called Kaerula 

 by the natives, extends from the southern extremity of India to 

 almost the latitude of 12^ degrees North; but this includes a 

 portion of the English province of Canara ; and it extends from 

 the summits of the mountains to the sea. In its vegetable pro- 

 ductions and appearance, it more resembles Chatigang and the 

 mountains of Farther India than the adjacent territory of rigid 

 vegetation ; but it is better cultivated, contains more plantations, 

 especiaUy of Palmas, and, the rock projecting more, the vegeta- 

 tion is not quite so luxuriant. It has, however, perhaps still less 

 of an European appearance, none of the Amentaceae nor Coni- 

 ferae being found in its woods. The Dutch, however, have in- 

 troduced many fine trees from the Eastern Islands, and the Por- 

 tuguese some from the West Indies ; both of which give a consi- 

 derable variety to its plantations, and few countries possess a ve- 



