PHYSICAL FE.tr\ ra:s. lu its northern part, Ceylon is a level country, interspersed here and there with low hill chains. The southern part, on the contrary, is mountainous in its character. The mountain masses of the island cover an area of over 4000 square miles and run in various directions with a gradual decline toward the north. The highest peaks are Pedrotallagtilla (8280 feet), and Adam's Peak (7420 feet), a fa mous place of pilgrimage among Oriental nations and especially held in high esteem hy the Bud dhists. Geologically the northern part of Ceylon shows a predominance of coral limestone, while the prevailing composition of the mountains is gneiss occasionally intersected with veins of quartz and sometimes overlaid with clay or limestone. Ceylon has numerous rivers, mostly dependent on the rains for their water. The principal of then] is the Mahavela-ganga, rising in the mountains in the vicinity of Ada Peak and falling into the ocean near Trincomali Bay. It is quite deep and even navigable for a short distance during the rainy season, but is easily forded in the dry season. There are ancient re mains of dams and canals which formerly con nected extensive lagoons along the east coast.
The climate of Ceylon, although superior to that of most tropical countries. is still suffi ciently unhealthful. especially iu the low regions, to prevent European immigration on a large scale. in some parts of the island there is prac tically only one season. a humid and oppressive heat interrupted now and then by eopiolls show ers. The average annual temperature ranges from about 70° to 00°. in accordance with the
altitude of the locality. In the mountains the temperature is pleasantly cool and not infrequently cold in the night. In the valley of Nurwara Eliya, situated at an altitude of nearly 6000 feet and used for a sanatorium, the temperature seldom rises above 70° and has an annual aver age of about 62'. The rainfall shows as nitwit diversity as the temperature, ranging from 30 to SO, and sometimes 120 inches per year.
The flora of Ceylon is remarkable for its beauty as well as for its variety, and constitutes one of the principal attractions of the island. It is especially rich in palms, of which the most prominent specimens are the cocoanut, areca, and feathery palms. The elevated portions of the island were formerly covered with thick forests of valuable trees, some of which cannot he found elsewhere in the world. :Most of these forests are being destroyed to make way for the exten sive tea plantations, which now constitute the most prominent feature of the island. Ceylon is also especially rich in ferns and flowers, of there are endless varieties.
The animal kingdom of Ceylon is also remark able for its variety. Chief among the quadru peds is the elephant, which, although tuskless, is of much value as a beast of burden, and is largely exported from the island. The bear, leopard. buffalo, several of the monkey, and the Indian humped ox are also abundant,. The island contains over 3000 species of birds and many varieties of reptiles. among which the most prominent is the crocodile.