PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



[PART I. 



pearance in succession, and as these decay, their 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 littoral plants, which 

 apparently require a large quantity of salt to stimu- 

 late vegetation. These at times are intermixed with 

 others, which, though found further inland, yet flourish 

 in perfection on the shore. On the northern and 

 north-western coasts the glass worts } and salt worts 2 

 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 which in their turn afford 

 shelter to a third and erect class. 



The Goafs-foot Ipomcea 3 , 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 strikingly with its dark green 

 foliage. 



Along with the Ipomoea grows the moodu-gaeta-kola 4 , 

 (literally the "jointed sea-shore plant,") with pink 

 flowers and thick succulent leaves, and two species of 

 bean 5 each endowed with a peculiar facility for repro- 

 duction, all of which help to consolidate the sands into 

 which they strike. 



Another plant which performs an important func- 



racan ; and conscious that the term 

 was local and not likely to be under- 

 stood beyond those countries, he adds 

 that " gobbha" means " a yulffull of 

 shallows, shook, and breakers," See 

 translation by VON HAMMEB, Joum, 

 Asiat. Soc. Seng. v. 466. 

 1 Salicornia Indica. 



2 Salsola Indica. 



3 Ipomoea pes-capr?e. 



4 Hydrophylax maiitima. 



5 The Mooduawara (Canavalia ol- 

 tustfolia), whose flowers have the fra- 

 grance of the sweet pea, and Dolichos 

 luteus. 



