INDIA, BRITISH, an extensive re gion of Southern Asia, celebrated during many ages for its riches and valuable natural productions, its beautiful manu factures and costly merchandise, the magnificence of its sovereigns, and the early civilization of its people. HITHER INDIA is the central peninsula of southern Asia; its length may be stated approxi mately at 1,900 miles, and its width at 1,600 miles, with an area of about 1,300, 000 square miles. Pop. about 320,000, 000. The natural boundaries of this vast region are, on the N., the range of the Himalaya Mountains which separates it from Tartary, China, and Tibet; on the W. the Suliman Mountains divide it from Afghanistan and Beloochistan; on the S. the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Ben gal; and on the E. the hill ranges which separate Chittagong and Assam from Burma. From the mouth of the Brah maputra and the Indus the E. and W. coasts, inclining toward the same point, meet at Cape Comorin, and thus give to South India the form of an irregular triangle. The two sides of the triangle have each a coast line of about 2,000 miles. India, from its great extent of sea-board, is essentially a maritime COUntry. FARTHER INDIA is the usual name given to the S. E. peninsula of Asia. The great natural divisions of Hither India 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 sub - 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 and Indus. The plain of the Ganges, which includes Bengal, Bahar, the Doab, Oude, and Rohilcund, is a vast alluvial flat, extend ing from the Bay of Bengal to the Pun jab. Scattered over the agricultural dis tricts, 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 Aravulli Hills. The Pun
jab occupies the N. portion. S. of the Punjab, and parallel with the river, the great sandy desert of the Indus extends for nearly 500 miles. 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 which separates west and east India. The highlands of northern Hindustan ex tend from the Vindhya Mountains as a base to the border of the Thur. They include the tableland of Malwa and Raj pootana or Rajasthan, which has an ele vation of about 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. The peninsular portion of India, S. of the Vindhya Mountains, is called by the natives the Deccan. The most remarkable geographical feature of the area is a central tableland—vast plateau—rising frorn 2,000 to 3,000 feet 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 coun try on the coast to the central tableland the mountains rise abruptly in a succes sion of gigantic terraces or steps, and hence the name of "Ghauts." Vegetable vegeta tion of India is as varied as its soil and climate, passing from the flora of a trop ical to that of an alpine region. The groves of palm that border the coast, and, in the interior, the umbrageous mango topes, are striking features of In dian scenery. Rice is the chief article of food in India, and is produced in all parts of the country in which irrigation is practiced. Maize and wheat are the grain cultivated in the Northwest Prov inces. Opium is one of the most valu able products of India. Coffee is largely produced in Ceylon, and the cultivation of the plant is rapidly spreading in given rise to an important trade. India rubber is another important product of Assam, the demand for which is increas ing. In order to protect existing for ests and extend the area of the timber producing districts the Indian Forest Conservancy Department was organized.