SKETCH OF THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 
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to pursue the subject further than suffices to satisfy the reader that, 
as we cannot arrive at the ultimate geological theory of the Penin¬ 
sula without considering the whole vast region of elevation in which 
it is situated, so the geological facts which the Peninsula, considered 
in itself, presents, must possess an interest for all who are labouring 
to elucidate the theory of the elevation of any other part of that re¬ 
gion. * 
* “That the movements which elevated the mountains of the Malayan 
Peninsula had an intimate relation with those that elevated the mountains 
of Sumatra, seems evident, whether we regard the -hypothesis of De Beau¬ 
mont, the more recent observations and theories of Mr. Darwin, or the 
mechanical researches of Mr. Hopkins. Both form long chains which pur¬ 
sue parallel lines not more than 3 or 4 degrees distant. But we must pro¬ 
bably take in a much wider geographical range if we would seek a general 
geological theory of the region which they traverse. The mountain chains 
of the Peninsula of India are parallel, or approximately so, to the Malayan, 
and like them, spring from the great central system of Asia. The chain of 
the Peninsula of Malaya is directly continued to this region, and from it des¬ 
cend nearly parallel chains through Burmah, Siam and Cochin China. These 
ranges determine the general direction of the sea coasts, wherever these are 
exposed to waves sufficiently strong to prevent the formation and extension 
of great alluvial plains. The western eoasts of India and of the Tenasserim 
Provinces, Siam, the gulf of Siam and the eastern coast of Cochin China are 
thusfixed. A wide and-interesting field of iniquiryis opened up by the 
probable geological connection between the regions of these ranges and 
those of the Indian Archipelago generally, Australia and the Archipelagoes 
of the Pacific, evidenced by the prevalence of pavallel lines of elevation, and 
perhaps also by organic remains, such as the fossil elephant and some of 
the carboniferous plants of New South Wales. The former existence of a 
great Australasian continent, an extension probably of the present continent 
of Asia, which seems to derive support from Mr. Darwin’s theory of Atolls, 
would be an inference in accordance with these facts, although we must ei¬ 
ther exclude the greater part of the Indian Archipelago from the speculation, 
or, to bring this tract within it, suppose its existing elevation to have suc¬ 
ceeded to an era of subsidence. But, putting aside this speculation, and 
viewing the whole region, interspersed with peninsulas and islands, from the 
Indian Ocean to the heart of the Pacific, as one, it might appear that if we 
slightly modify Dc Beaumont’s theory of parallel rectilinear or oblong areas 
of elevation and subsidence, which Mr. Darwin has applied to the eastern 
tracts, and conceive curvilinear tines or systems of parallel, or slighly diver¬ 
gent, curvilinear lines proceeding from centres and often meeting similar lines 
or systems from other centres, and, again, lateral and secondary lines diverg¬ 
ing from the principal, the arrangement of the observed ranges would as¬ 
sume greater symmetry, and be found, perhaps, to accord with the hypothe¬ 
sis that one widely extended and slowly increasing mechanical pulsion, or 
tension, accompanied by local foci'and tracts of intense development, from 
weakness in the rocks or increased platonic or volcanic action, gave the first 
direction to all themain lines of elevation. Thus let us conceive such a centre 
to be situated in the western half ofNew Guinea, and we have some indepen¬ 
dent warrant for doing so, in the circumstance that the mountains of its un¬ 
explored interior appear to attain a magnitude unusual in the Archipelago. 
From this focus we may trace one great curvilinear fracture or band of rup¬ 
ture of the earth’s crust through the Sutnda Islands to Chittagong; a second 
