48 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



[Part T. 



pearaiice in succession, and as these decay, tlieir de- 

 composition generates a sufficiency of soil to sustain 

 continued vegetation. 



The process of this conversion may be seen in all its 

 stages at various points along the coast of Ceylon. 



The margin of land nearest to the water is first taken 

 possession of by a series of httoral plants, which 

 apparently reqmre a large quantity of salt to sustain 

 thek vegetation. These at times are intermixed with 

 others, wliich, though found further inland, yet flourish 

 in perfection on the shore. On the northern and 

 north-western coasts the glass worts ' and salt worts ^ 

 are the first to appear on the newly raised banks, and 

 being provided with penetrating roots, a breakwater is 

 thus early secured, and the drier sand above becomes 

 occupied with creeping plants wliich in theu" turn afford 

 shelter to a third and erect class. 



The Goat's-foot Ipomoea^, which appears to encircle 

 the world, abounds on these shores, covering the surface 

 to the water's edge with its procumbent branches, which 

 sending down roots from every joint serve to give the 

 bank its first firmness, whilst the profusion of its purple- 

 coloured flowers contrasts strildngly with its dark green 

 foliage. 



Along with the Ipomoea grow two species of beans* 

 each endowed with a pecuhar facihty for reproduction, 

 thus consohdating the sands into which they strike ; 

 and the moodu-gaeta-kola^ (literally the "jointed sea- 

 shore plant,") with pink flowers and tliick succulent 

 leaves. 



Another plant which performs an important fimc- 



racau ; and conscious that tlie term 

 was local and not likely to be under- 

 stood beyond those countries, he adds 

 that " gobbha" means "« (jnlffullof 

 shallows, shoals, and breakers.^' See 

 translation by Von IIasimek, Jomm. 

 Asiat. Soc. Bene/, v. 400. 

 ^ Salicomia Indica. 



^ Salsola Indica. 



3 Ipomoea pes-caprse. 



4 The Mooduawara (Canavalia ob- 

 tusifolia), whose flowers have the fra- 

 grance of the sweet pea, and Dolichos 

 hiteus. 



^ Hydrophylax maritima. 



