Page:Maury's New Elements of Geography, 1907.djvu/124

 the size of the United States, it contains about four times the number of inhabitants.

6. The Hindus are divided into four classes (called castes)—priests, soldiers, merchants, laborers.

The Hindus are skilful workmen. They make the famous cashmere shawls, from the wool of the Cashmere goat. Their finest muslin is equal to the best that is made by machinery. It is so delicate that they call it woven wind and evening dew.

Cotton, opium, indigo, sugar, rice, tea, wheat, jute, hides, and tobacco are the chief products. Maury Geography 120C wheat.jpg Threshing wheat with cattle in India.

Rice is the most important article of food. Opium is the dried juice of a kind of poppy. It is much smoked and chewed, especially by the Chinese.

Maury Geography 120B banyan.jpg A banyan tree. Notice how the branches have taken root, becoming large trunks.

7. Cities.—Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras are the chief commercial cities of India. Calcutta is the capital.

Maury Geography 120A Bombay.jpg A street scene in Bombay.

LESSON LIX. 1. Afghanistan and Baluchistan lie to the west of India. They are wild, mountainous countries. Much of the land is desert. The valleys abound in fruit.

The great caravans that go from India to Persia and Turkestan, carrying gums, precious stones and other costly things, have to pass through these countries.

The people are called Afghans and Baluchees. They are very warlike. Many of them are wandering herdsmen, and have large numbers of camels, horses, and sheep. They are Mohammedans.