INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 133 



range to the north, and by the island of Ceylon to the east. 

 We have, therefore, in the southernmost part of India, in a 

 latitude between 8° and 10° N., a hot, arid climate, resembling 

 that of Egypt, like which it produces the best quality of senna 

 and cotton, and many wild plants characteristic of the Egyp- 

 tian Flora, which avoid humidity, and are not known else- 

 where in the Peninsula, Of this, two remarkable instances 

 are Coc cuius Leceba, and Capparis aphylla. 



As a whole, the vegetation of the Carnatic is neither rich nor 

 varied. The climate being very arid except during the north- 

 east monsoon, the humid flora is entirely absent. There is 

 no forest, except on the flanks of the higher mountains, 

 which bound the province on the west, or rise from its plains ; 

 and there the vegetation resembles that of the drier parts of 

 Ceylon or of the Mysore hills. The shrubby flora of the 

 open plains consists chiefly of Capparidece, Rhamnacea, Aca- 

 cia, and spinous Rubiacece, Alangium, Azima, Carissa and 

 Calotropis gigantea, Ehretia buwifolia, Gmelina, Salvadora, 

 Antidesma, Pisonia, and such like shrubby plants. The only 



comm 



assus 



and Areca. Along with these, grow many shrubs which are 



far 



the Himalaya. Many of the annual plar 

 wide range, especially those of the rains, 

 different from those of the Gangetic valle; 

 winter, there are no northern types found 

 Carnatic. 



As there is no 



The vegetation of the hillv parts of the Carnatic 



no peculiarities. Most 



temperature 



masses 



appears to present fewer peculiar features than more continuous 



mountain 



elevation. The flanks are 



rated with dense bamboo jungle, and the summit is bare and 

 grassy, except in ravines and along the streams. A detailed 



