122 



tions which periodically occur, with terrible severity, 

 in large provinces, and from which India, in some 

 part, is seldom entirely free. 



"We have before us a Continent as large as Great 

 Britain, and, Russia excepted, half the rest of Europe 

 besides. Its configuration is peculiar. A stupendous 

 chain of mountains, the highest and most massive in 

 the world stretches alon<r the entire north and north 

 eastern frontier; high table land occupies the centre ; 

 chains of mountains, or ghats, run down the south 

 eastern and southwestern coast, at some distance from 

 the sea. Mighty rivers take their rise in these heights, 

 performing in their course to the sea the double duty 

 of fertilizing and draining the countries through 

 which they pass. But the distribution of these 

 great arteries with their tributary veins, is not equally 

 favourable to the whole country, and when, as is often 

 the case, a prolonged cessation of rain takes place 

 in any part, the result is one of those frightful 

 calamities with which North Western India has 

 lately been visited. 



The mean quantity of water, according to Rennell, 

 discharged by one of these rivers, (the Ganges,) 

 into the Sea, throughout the whole year is 80,000 

 cubic feet in a second, or 69,12,000,000 cubic 

 feet per diem. But during the rainy months the 

 quantity is 405,000 cubic feet in a second; and, 

 as the water of the Gauges yields about one 

 part in four of sediment, it: is calculated that 



