Malabar

Malabar, a district (5765 sq. m.) on the south-west coast of India, in the Presidency of Madras, extending from 10° 15' to 12° 18' N. lat. Pop. (1891) 2,652,565, over two-thirds Hindus, and one-fourth Mohammedans. The surface is occupied in the east by the Western Ghâts, which send down numerous rivers to the coast, many of them navigable for some distance. There are large forests. Rice is the staple crop; cocoa-nuts are largely grown, and also coffee and pepper. The name of this district is applied to the whole south-western coast of Southern India.