118 FLORA INDICA. 



sula of Katiwar may be considered as the southern termi- 

 nation of the Arawah, though separated from it by an alluvial 

 plain, being the continuation of the watershed, and dividing the 

 streams flowing to the Gulf of Kach (or the delta of the Indus) 

 fi.'om those that flow into the Gulf of Cambay. 



We shall now proceed to give a rapid sketch of the physical 

 features of the provinces of Ilindostan, commencing with the 

 southernmost. These are — 



1. Ceylon. 7. Khandesh. 13. Gujerat. 



2. IMalabar. 8. Berar. 14. Sind. 



3. Concan. 9. Orissa. 15. Rajwara. 



4. Camatic. 10. Bahar. 16. Panjab. 



5. Mysore. 11. Bandelkhand. 17. Upper Gangetic plain. 



6. Dekhan. 12. Malvrah. 18. Bengal. 



1. Ceylon. 



This island extends from 0° almost to 10° N. lat., and is 

 about 200 miles long, and 150 in greatest width. It is en- 

 circled by a belt of level land, which forms extensive plains 

 at the northern extremity ; and is traversed by a meridional 

 chain of mountains. These raomftains form a narrow range 

 towards the north, seldom exceeding 1000 feet in elevation, 

 and sinli into the plain eighty miles from that extremity ; to 

 the southward they spread out, attain nearly 9000 feet of ele- 

 vation, and extend eastward from Adam's Peak to Maha Ellia 

 (or Tlorton plains) and Newera Ellia. The main ridge retains, 

 perhaps, 6000-7000 feet of mean elevation for thirty miles, 

 and expands into elevated plains of considerable extent, from 

 which the loftier peaks rise. To the south and east, this 

 transverse ridge dips abruptly into a low but hilly forest-clad 

 country, but to the north it gives off a number of meridional 

 ranges of considerable height; these separate tributaries of 

 the Mahawali river which flow in elevated mountain valleys. 



The great extent and elevation of the high land in Southern 

 Ceylon powerfully influences the climate of the whole island. 

 During the south-west (or summer) monsoon the north and 



