321 



Observations on Botany^ ^c. 



[Oct. 



He commences his illustrations by remarking that " The intro- 

 ductory observations having enabled us to appreciate the extent and 

 general nature of the territories comprized within the boundaries of 

 India, and shewn the general uniformity, or rather almost insensible 

 gradation of temperature, on which so greatly depends the natural 

 distribution of animal and vegetable forms, as well as those which 

 are the product of art, we now proceed to the more immediate 

 object of the work ; that of illustrating the Flora of the Himalaya 

 mountains." On this passage we have to remark, that a part only 

 of the introduction is printed, which is altogether devoted to geogra- 

 phical details, so that we arc for a time at least, deprived of much 

 curious information that belongs to the other subjects of which it 

 treats. On this account, we shall content ourselves with presenting 

 a very abridged description of the principal mountain ranges of the 

 peninsula, adding a few things not mentioned in the original. 



India is traversed by four principal ranges or mountains, 1st, the 

 western or Malabar Gauts, 2d, the eastern or Coromandal Gauts, 

 3d, the Vindyha range occupying central India, and 4th, the Hima- 

 layas bounding the whole. 



The eastern and western ranges commence between 21 ^ and" 

 220 north, in Candish and Orissa. The first of these, with slight 

 interruptions, forms a nearly continuous series to between 16^ and 

 170, -where there is a considerable break, giving passage to the 

 Godavery and Kistnah rivers. Resuming its course from nearly 

 the same latitude, but further inland, it continues in a south and 

 south westerly direction, till it meets the western range and unites 

 with it in forming the Neelgherries. In addition to the Gauts or 

 principal range, the whole of the Carnatic is studded with detached 

 hills, or intersected with smaller ranges, the most conspicuous of 

 which are the Shevaroy and Namkal hills in the Salem district, rising 

 to the height of about 5000 feet. The western Gauts are more 

 continuous, forming a nearly unbroken range from Candish, to the 

 southern declivity of the Neelgherries, where there is a chasm nearly 

 16 miles broad. This range is nearer the sea, rises higher, and with 

 a more abrupt ascent than the eastern. Between these, the table 

 land of Mysore is supported at an elevation of between 2000 and 

 3000 feet, and like the Carnatic is studded with detached hills some 

 of them of considerable elevation. The Neelgherries, apparently 

 formed by the union of these great ranges, rise to nearly double the 

 height of either of them, attaining the elevation of 8700 feet above 

 the sea. 



