882 



deep black lustrous crystals ; and quartz traversing the laterite, in 

 dykes of variable thickness. Masses of trap are also met with, trans- 

 lucent crystals of carbonate of lime not unfrequently found in the 

 centre of the blocks of syenite, and the beds of ravines afford frag- 

 ments of laminated mica. No signs of stratification, or of volcanic 

 action, are discoverable. At the base of the primary ridge, in those 

 places where it terminates at some distance from water-mark, and 

 between the various spurs, patches of alluvial soil are found, consist- 

 ing exclusively of decomposed vegetable matter washed down by the 

 rains, and mingled with the laterite. These are sedulously turned to 

 account by the natives, for agricultural purposes, and, owing to care 

 in manuring and irrigation, are sufficiently productive. The nume- 

 rous ravines by which the flanks of the hills are cleft, furnish a never- 

 failing supply of water, remarkable for its extreme purity ; and a lit- 

 tle below one of the loftiest peaks arises a considerable spring, the 

 singular position of which leads to the belief that it may have a sub- 

 marine communication with the mainland. During the summer sea- 

 son, these streams become greatly swollen ; and the spectator sees 

 the angles of junction of the spurs and main range distinctly traced 

 out by lines of foam, indicating the course of these turbulent cascades. 

 The climate is subject to a variation of temperature, from 47° to 

 93" Fah. The daily range rarely exceeds fifteen degrees. Once only, 

 during the years 1844 — 1851, did the thermometer sink as low as freez- 

 ing point. Towards the end of October or the commencement of No- 

 vember, the north-east monsoon sets in. The atmosphere is wonder- 

 fully serene; the air cold, bracing, and dry; and the transition from an 

 atmosphere saturated with moisture, is marked by the warping and 

 splitting of tables and other wooden articles of furniture, accompanied 

 by considerable noise, and the curling up of papers, as occurs in this 

 climate when they are placed in a heated room. This is the winter, 

 which endures until about the middle of February, during which 

 scarcely any rain falls, and vegetation is dried up and scanty, a few 

 Compositae being nearly all that can be found flowering. Gradually 

 the temperature becomes higher, the atmospheric deposits greater, 

 the dry, discoloured leaves of the myrtle, Melastoma, and Erablica 

 fall, their branches kindle with a tender vernal green, and innumerable 

 flowers spring up from the turf, until, about May, summer is heralded 

 by the advent of the south-west monsoon. This season is charac- 

 terized by a most intense and oppressive heat, which causes the 

 greatest languor to European residents ; rain falls for a week or ten 

 days together, rather in sheets than drops ; the swollen torrents rush 



