INDIA,* an extensive region of southern Asia, celebrated during many ages for its riches and valuable natural productions, its beautiful manufactures and costly merchan dise, the magnificence of its sovereigns, and the early civilization of its people. It pos sesses especial interest to the Englishman, from the intimate connection of its history with that of his own country.
Hither India is the central peninsula of southern Asia, and lids in 8° 4' to 85° n. lat., and 67° to 92° e. long. According to these limits, its length may be stated approx imately at 1900 m., and its breadth, reckoned along the parallel of 25° n. lat., at 1600 in., with an area of about 1,300,000 sq. miles. The natural boundaries of this vast region are, on the n., the range of the Himalaya mountains, which separates it from Tartary, China, and Thibet; on the w., the Suliman mountains divide it from Afghanis tan and Beloochistan; on the s., the Arabian sea and the gulf of Bengal; and on the c., the hill-ranges which separate Chittagong and Assam from Burmah. From the mouths of the Brahmaputra and the Indus, the e. and w. coasts, inclining towards the same point, meet at cape Comorin, and thus give to southern India the,form of an irregular triangle. The two sides of the triangle have each a coast-line of about 2,000 miles. India is, in fact. from its great extent of seaboard, essentially a maritime country.
Further India is the name given to the south-eastern peninsula of Asia. It is not treated of in this article, and for information concerning it reference is made to the articles on SIAM, BUBMAII, COCHIN-CHINA, etc. ' Physical Features. —Hither India presents a most diversified surface and varied scen ery; it has indeed been called "an epitome of the whole earth," consisting as it does of mountains far above the level of perpetual snow; broad and fertile plains, bathed in intensest sunshine, arid wastes, and impenetrable forests. Its great natural divisions are the sub Himalayan countries, the plain of the Ganges, the plain of the Indus, the highlands of northern Hindustan, and the peninsular portion of the country to the s. of the Vindhya mountains.
The ..ub Himalayan Countries form an elevated tract lying between the chief ridge of the Himalayas and the lower elevations which adjoin the plains of the Ganges all hill-countries, which, owing to their elevation above the sea, have a cool climate and the vegetation of the temperate zones. These regions are separated from the plain of
the Ganges by the Terai, or Great Indian swamp, which extends in a long belt, 5 to 25 in. in width, from Hurdwar to the I3ralunaputra. It is covered with great forest trees, and is the haunt of innumerable wild beasts. The soil is very fertile, but malaria ren ders it uninhabitable by man and the domestic animals, at least from April to Oct. It is then said to be abandoned even by the wild beasts. This wilderness forms a great physical barrier between the hill-countrieS and the plains, and separates populations distinct from each other in race and language.
The Plain of the Ganges, which includes Bengal, Bahar, the Doab, Oude, and Bohil cund, is a vast alluvial flat, extending from the bay of Bengal to the Punjab. Through out its entire length, the Ganges and its numerous tributaries spread out like the veins of a leaf, carrying everywhere their fertilizing influence. The population of these fer tile and well-cultivated plains is very dense. Scattered over the agricultural districts, and massed in the great cities and towns, there are not less than 100,000,000 people.
The Plains of the Indus, in the n.w., are less extensive than those of the Ganges, and are separated from the latter by the Aravnlli hills. The Punjab occupies the northern portion. South of the Punjab, and parallel with the river, the great sandy desert of tha Indus extends for nearly 500 miles. The valley of the Indus is continued through Sinde to the ocean. The plains of the Indus may be considered to include Cinch and Gimgerat, which like them slope towards the Arabian sea. Between the Indus and the Aravulli mountains lies the Thur or Indian desert, an expanse covered with sand-hills, 400 in. long and 100 broad. It is only iu the neighborhood of the Indus and time Lind that the surface can be eultivated—althongh co.•ops of grain may be grown in a few nar row valleys after the rains. The horse and camel alone can cross this desert, which is described in Hindu geography as " the region of death." Like the Terai, it forms a great physical barrier separating western and eastern India.