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 BOMBAY 21 and southern divisions of Bombay proper, in which are comprehended Ahmedabad, Kaira, Surat, Broach, Bombay island, Darwar, Can- deish, Tanna or North Ooncan, Eutnagherry or South Ooncan, Poonah, Ahmednuggur, and Canara. Tlie large native feudatory states of Cutch and Guzerat, the chiefs of which are subject merely to British supervision, intervene between Sinde and the northern and southern divisions. The coast line is about 1,050 m. in length. Considered with reference to its physi- cal characteristics, the province is divisible into four regions : 1, the Sinde territory, in the north, comprising the low and level basin of the In- dus, where strips of exceedingly fertile country alternate with deserts produced by lack of irri- gation ; 2, the two Ooncans, which form the rugged and hilly maritime belt, about 330 m. long and from 25 to 50 m. wide, lying between the Western Ghauts and the Arabian sea; 3, the eastward slope of the Western Ghauts; and 4, the flat, alluvial tracts W. of the gulf of Oambay, in the Nerbudda districts. There are great meteorological differences between these several regions. The climate of Sinde is exceedingly sultry and dry, with a very light rainfall, and an average maximum temperature at Hydrabad, the capital, of 98'5 F. in the shade. In the Ooncans, on the other hand, while the heat is as great, the annual fall of rain is much larger. This is due to the action of the Western Ghauts in condensing the va- pors of the S. W. monsoon as it blows in from the sea; but the same cause leaves the east- ward slope of the range comparatively rainless. At Bombay island the average annual temper- ature is about 80 F., with a maximum of about 100 in the shade; and the rainfall av- erages 80 inches per annum, sometimes rising nearly to 100 inches. The Western Ghauts are the most important mountains in the prov- ince ; within its boundaries the altitude of the range varies from 1,000 to 4,700 ft. The In- dus, Nerbudda, and Taptee are the principal rivers. The vegetable productions comprise cotton and rice in the coast districts, sugar and indigo in Oandeish, and wheat, barley, hemp, and tobacco in Sindo. Opium is manufactured in the native states of Malwa and Guzerat, and merchants who wish to send it to the city of Bombay obtain permits from the govern- ment at a certain price per chest. Consider- Bombay, from Malabar Hill. able quantities of silk are raised, and there are silk manufactories in some of the towns. The land revenue system of Bombay was carefully planned and put in operation about 20 years ago. It provides for a survey and assessment of the whole province, which work is now al- most completed. With few exceptions, the occupants of the land hold directly from the government, and pay their rent to government officers. The fields are mapped, and marked out by permanent objects, to remove which is a penal offence; they are then classified for assessment, with reference to the soil, climate, proximity to market, and other external condi- tions. When the existing rate was fixed, it was equal to one half the yearly value of the land; but in consequence of the general im- provement of the country the proportion is now not more than one fourth or one eighth of that value, except in the poorer districts. A revision of the assessment may be made at the end of every 30 years. The land revenue yields a larger sum per capita in Bombay than in any other province of India. The adminis- tration is vested in a governor appointed by the crown with the advice of the secretary of state for India. He is assisted by three coun- cillors and a legislative council. There are 300 schools in the province, under government supervision, with an attendance of 13,000 scholars, five sixths of whom are instructed in the native languages only, the remainder being taught English. Religious establishments are maintained by the churches of England and