The highlands of NOrthern Hindustan extend from the Vindhya mountains as a base to the border of the Thur. They include the table-land of Mama and Bajpootana or Rajasthan, which has an elevation of about 2,000 ft. above the level of the sea.
The Peninsular Portion of India, s. of the Vindhya mountains, which remains to be considered, is called by the natives the Deccan (q.v.). The most remarkable geographi cal feature of this area is a central table-land—a vast plateau—extending from 12° to 21° n. lat., rising from 2,000 to 3,000 ft. above the sea, and inclosed on all sides by lofty mountains, between which and the sea, on the e. and w., are narrow strips of low flat country, divided into several districts. From the low country on the coast to the cen tral table-land the mountains rise abruptly, in a succession of gigantic terraces or steps, and hence the name of " Ghauts" (q.v.). The rivers of the Deccan rise in the western Ghauts, and after transversing the table-land, descend to the sea over the eastern Ghauts. The slope of the country corresponds with the course of the rivers; it has a gradual incli nation towards the east. Ceylon, the Lacadive, and Maladive islands may also be con sidered to belong to this part of India.
The Himalaya (q.v.) and the Suliman mountains (see AFOITANISTAN) far exceed in al t i• trade the chains which lie within the boundaries of India. The Vindhya mountains, which cross India between and 25° of n. let., and separate Hindustan proper from the southern or peninsular portion of the country, nowhere exceed 6,000 ft. in height. The Satpura range, between the Nerbudda and Tapti valleys, is n spur of the Vindhya. The Western Ghauts run parallel with the Indian ocean at a distance of 20 to 40 miles. At Mahab aleshwar, the sanitarium of Bombay, they rise to 4,500 ft., but they are lofty near Coorg, where one summit has an elevation of 7,000 feet. On the opposite coast, forming the south-eastern buttress of the table-laud of the Deccan, are the Eastern Ghauts (seu GnauTs). The physical geography of southern India presents the singular phenomenon of isolated masses upheaved amidst the vast plains that occupy the greater portion of the peninsula. Of these, the most remarkable are the Neilgherries (q.v.) or Blue moun
tains, which cover an area of 600 sq. miles. Ootacamuud (q.v.), the great sanitarium of southern India, situated in the midst of them, has an elevation of 7,400 feet. Of the minor mountain-ranges of India, the • principal are the Sewalik range, near Hurdwar, rising 3,000 ft.; the Kala or Salt range, adjacent to the Suliman range, rising 2,500 ft.; the Aravulli, between the basins of the Gauges and the Indus, culminating in Mt. Abu at an altitude of 5,000 ft. ; the Kattywar hills, rising from 101)0 to 3,000 ft. in the center of the Kattywar peninsula; the hills of Bundeleund, 2,000 ft.; and the Rajmahal hills, rising from 5,000 to 7,000 feet.
The river-system of India is on a grand scale. The Indus (q.v.) traverses the n.w., and drains about 400,000 sq.m. of country. The Ganges (q.v.), on the n.e., together with its tributaries, drains an area of about 500,000 sq. miles. The Brahmaputra (q.v.) has a course of upwards of 600 in. from the point where it leaves the Himalayas to that where it enters the bay of Bengal. The eastern side of India—the region southward of the Nerbudda, and eastward of the Malabar Ghauts—is watered by 18 rivers, the princi pal being the Godavery, 830 m. long; Kistna„ 800; Cauvery (Kaveri), 470; Mahanadi, 520; Bralu»ini, 400; North Pennar, 350; and the South Permar. 240. About 20 rivers water the western side of India. The most noteworthy are the Nerbudda, 800 m. long; the Tapti, 400—both of which flow into the gulf of Cambay; the Myhi, 350 in.; Lum, 320 m. ; Bunnas, 180 in.; and the Bhadro, 130 miles.
Geology.—From observations that have been made at different points in India, the general features of its geological structure are known. A staff of geologists com menced more than a quarter of a century ago a geological survey of India, which has since then been uninterruptedly proceeded with. They have already examined an area more than four times as large as that of Great Britain. and their inquiries have sup plied, for the districts they have dealt with, an accurate knowledge of the mineral resources of India.