MYSORE, or MAISUR, nii-s7tr'. A native State of Southern India, bounded on the cast, south, and west by Madras, on the south west also by (non!. and on the north by Bom bay and tMap: India, G 0). Area, 27.930 square miles. The country consists of a plateau front 2000 to 3000 feet above the sea, in closed in the angle between the Eastern and West ern Ghats. Its surface is undulating. somewhat level in the east, but rugged and mountainous in the west. it is heavily forested and sparse ly populated. It consists mainly of primi tive rocks, and basaltic trap formations are common: the drugs, precipitous rocky masses rising more than 1000 feet above the pla teau. are characteristic features of the State. The rivers are all unnavigable mountain streams; most of them flow toward the Bay of Penal, and are largely utilized for irriga tion purposes; the northern streams belong to the basin of the piston, and the southern to the havers basin. (=rain and oil-seeds form the
major part of the crops. The betelnut and cocoa nut palm are important, and coffee is grown in large quantities. There are a number of gold mines in the eastern part of the State.
Mysore is ruled by a Maharaja, whose word prac tically is law. A representative assembly meets annually. but its powers are limited to discus sion. The State maintains a small military force of about 4000 men. An annual tribute is paid to the British Government in consideration of mili tary protection. British interests are looked after by a political agent who resides at :Mysore, the capital. In 1901 the population was 5.538, 482. showing an increase of 12 per cent. for the decade. Nearly 94 per cent. of the population arc Ilindus. The remainder are mainly Moham medans. The principal town is Bangalore.