INDEX PROHIBITORIUS 134 INDIA very clearly the amount of change that has taken place in the value of money. These totals of average prices for a year form the hasis of comparison for varia- tions, and are called index numbers. The averages, to be exact, must be "weighted," which consists of giving commodities different degrees of impor- tance, since in a list including potatoes and fountain pens, the potatoes should of course be given a higher weight, because more money is spent on them than on fountain pens. In the United States the Bureau of Labor, Bradstreets, and Babson's com- pile and publish index numbers, while the "London Economist" and the British Board of Trade are the leading English authorities, all of which usually agree about the general trend of prices. Because Otf the greater ease with which prices may be collected and because of the more general standardization of quality, the wholesale prices are used in computing the index numbers. The av- erage may be computed harmonically, geometrically, or the simple unweighted arithmetic average may be used. The later method, if done intelligently, pro- duces results which do not vary greatly from those obtained by the more elabor- ate methods. INDEX PBOHIBITOmUS, a list of books which may not be read by Roman Catholics, cleric or lay, on pain of ex- communication. The first Index Litrorum Prohibitorum was published (1564) in the pontificate of Pius IV., and various edi- tions have since appeared. INDIA, BRITISH, an extensive re- gion of Southern Asia, celebrated during many ages for its riches and valuable natural productions, its beautiful manu- factures and costly merchandise, the magnificence of its sovereigns, and the early civilization of its people. Hither India is the central peninsula of southern Asia; its length may be stated approxi- mately at 1,900 miles, and its width at 1,600 miles, with an area of about 1,300,- 000 square miles. Pop. about 320,000,- 000. The natural boundaries of this vast region are, on the N., the range of the Himalaya Mountains which separates it from Tartary, China, and Tibet; on the W. the Suliman Mountains divide it from Afghanistan and Beloochistan ; on the S, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Ben- gal; and on the E. the hill ranges which separate Chittagong and Assam from Burma. From the mouth of the Brah- maputra and the Indus the E. and W. coasts, inclining toward the same point, meet at Cape Comorin, and thus give to South India the form of an irregular triangle. The two sides of the triangle have each a coast line of about 2,000 miles. India, from its great extent of sea-board, is essentially a maritime country. Farther India is the usual name given to the S. E. peninsula of Asia. The great natural divisions of Hither India are the sub-Himalayan countries, the plain of the Ganges, the plain of the Indus, the highlands of northei-n Hindustan, and the peninsular portion of the country to the S. of the Vindhya Mountains. Topography. — The sub - Himalayan countries form an elevated tract lying between the chief ridge of the Himalayas and the lower elevations which adjoin the plains of the Ganges and Indus. The plain of the Ganges, which includes Bengal, Bahar, the Doab, Oude, and Rohilcund, is a vast alluvial flat, extend- ing from the Bay of Bengal Co the Pun- jab. Scattered over the agricultural dis- tricts, and massed in the great cities and towns, there are not less than 1 00,000,000 people. The plains of the Indus in the N. W, are less extensive than those of the Ganges, and are separated from the latter by the Aravulli Hills. The Pun- jab occupies the N. portion. S. of the Punjab, and parallel with the river, the great sandy desert of the Indus extends for nearly 500 miles. The horse and camel alone can cross this desert, which is described in Hindu geography as "the region of death." Like the Terai, it forms a great physical barrier which separates west and east India. The highlands of northern Hindustan ex- tend from the Vindhya Mountains as a base to the border of the Thur. They include the tableland of Malwa and Raj- pootana or Rajasthan, which has an ele- vation of about 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. The peninsular portion of India, S. of the Vindhya Mountains, is called by the natives the Deccan. The most remarkable geographical feature of the area is a central tableland — vast plateau— rising from 2,000 to 3,000 feet^ above the sea, and inclosed on all sides ' by lofty mountains, between which and the sea, on the E. and W., are narrow strips of low, flat country, divided into several districts. From the low coun- try on the coast to the central tableland the mountains rise abruptly in a succes- sion of gigantic terraces or steps, and hence the name of "Ghauts." Vegetable Productions. — The vegeta- tion of India is as varied as its soil and climate, passing from the flora of a trop- ical to that of an alpine region. The groves of palm that border the coast, and, in the interior, the umbrageous mango topes, are striking features of In=
