TRAV'ANCORE'. A native State of Brit ish India, lying territorially within the Province of Madras (Map: India, C 7). It occupies the western part of the extreme southern end of the Indian peninsula, and stretches from Cape Co morin northward along the coast to Cochin. Area, 7091 square miles, The coast, which is low and sandy, is lined with lagoons receiving numerous small streams. The land rises gradu ally to the crest of the Anamalay Mountains, which extend along the eastern boundary with an average altitude of 4000 to 5000 feet, rising in their highest peaks to over S500 feet. The climate is hot on the coast; the rainfall is heavy, and the mountain slopes are covered with forests of valuable woods, such as teak and ivory.
Rice, the sago palm, and vegetables are among the principal productg. Pepper', coffee, tea, cocoanut products, and timber are the chief arti cles exported. Travancore is one of the most progressive of the native States of India. Its
chiefs for a long period have been highly quali fied by character and education for their positions, government has been well admin istered, and a higher degree of prosperity has prevailed than has been common in India. The chieftaincy descends in the female line. The ruling family belongs to the Hindu race. A tribute of 810,162 rupees is paid annually to the British in consideration of the protection which they afford. In 1897-98, 64 per cent. of the boys and 19 per cent. of the girls of school age were in attendance at schools. The total popu lation increased from 2,557,736 in 1891 to 2, 951,038 in 1901. The large majority of the population, 2,035,615, were Hindus. There were 190,566 Mohammedans and 28,183 Animisties. In few regions of India has,Christianity secured so great a hold, the Christians numbering, in 1901, 697,387. Trivandrum (q.v.) is the capital.