Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c7.8

c7.8

The area, thus defined, falls into two broad divisions, *viz.*, the continental plain and the islands. The former is separated from India and China by high mountains starting from Central Asia. These throw out parallel ranges of hills, called Yomas, running north to south, right across the whole area. The valleys enclosed by them are watered by a number of rivers also running north to south. Beginning from the west these are the Irawadi, with its tributary the Chindwin, the Sittang, the Salween, the Menam and the Mekong. The first four are in Burma, while the Menam runs through the whole of Siam or Thailand as it is called today.