3$fi Dr. HamiltQii on the Plants of various Parts of India, 



parts. Willi the more barren parts of southern Europe there 

 IS more resemblance, the Rhamni and Caparides being com- 

 mon to both. 



After examining these countries of rigid vegetation, as it 

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

 Elephant Mountains, and entered the province called Malabar 

 by Europeans, but Kajrula and Malayala by the natives. These, 

 indeed, consider Malabar as an English word, meaning the 

 whole sea-coast between Cape Coraorin and Surat, 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 Koerula by the natives extends from the 

 southern extremity of India to almost the latitude of 12^ de- 

 grees north : but this includes a portion of the English pro- 

 vince of Canara; and it extends from the summits of the 

 mountains to the sea. In its vegetable productions and ap- 

 pearance it more resembles Chatigang and the mountains 

 of Farther India than the adjacent territory of rigid vegeta- 

 tion ; but it is better cultivatetl, contains more plantations,^^ 

 (especially of Palmer, and, the rock projecting more, the vege- 

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

 less of an European appearance, none of the Amentacecc nor 

 ConiferdE being found in its woods. The Dutch, however, 

 have introduced many fine trees from the Eastern Islands, and 

 the Portuguese some from the West Indies, both of which 

 give a considerable variety to its plantations ; and few countries 

 possess a vegetation so elegant, prospects more grand and 

 beautiful, and a climate more genial : its highest mountains, 

 although of considerable height, perhaps 6000 feet perpendi- 

 cular, have nothing of an aljMne appearance, but produce a 

 moisture and coolness that extends a more vigorous vegeta- 

 tion to the adjacent country above. 



Nearly connected with Kaerula, and little different from it 

 in vegetable productions, is Ceylon, the Taprobana of the Ro- 

 mans and the Lanka of the ancient Hindus, In 1815, I had 

 an opportunity' oi' a cursory examination of its southern end, 

 and saw sufficient to indicate that in general aspect at least it 

 does not materially differ from Malayala. 



North from Kuerula, and, as I have said, including a portion 

 of it, is the extensive English province of Canara, a word of 

 doubtful origin, and supposed by the natives to be English* 

 The Hindus divided it into four territories: 1st, Part of Kae- 

 rula or Malayala, extending to about 12° 28' north latitude; 

 2d, Tulava, extending from thence to about 13° 35' N. ; 3d, 

 Haivaor Haiga, extending to about 14° 38' N.; and 4th, Kan- 

 kana (Latine Cancana), extending to the Portuguese territory 



of 



