The Author has had the willing help of several friends, among whom might specially be mentioned Mr]. S. Gamble, who, as an old official of the Indian Forest Department, has dealt authoritatively with the chapter on the Flora and Forests. Mr E. B. Havell, who is well known by his charming books on Indian Art, has con tributed the chapter on Architecture, a subject which he had an opportunity of specially studying when for many years he was Principal of the Madras School of Art, while Mr George Romilly, who, as the representative for many years of the planters' community on the Legislative Council, has given the benefit of his personal knowledge of, and suc cessful commercial experience with, the planting industries. For the shortcomings of the chapter on Geology I am mainly responsible.