SALEM, a district of British India, in the presidency of Madras, bounded on the N. by the Rajah of Mysore's dominions and the northern division of Arcot, E. by the southern division of Arcot, S.E. and S. by Trichinopoly, S.W. and W. by Coimbatore and Mysore; and lying between N. Lat. 11. 2. and 12. 54., E. Long. 77. 32. and 79.; area, 7499 square miles. The western part of the district is mountainous, being occupied by several ranges, some of which rise to a height between 5000 and 6000 feet above the sea. The principal river is the Cauvery, which flows along the western and south-western frontiers of Salem for 140 miles. Another river is the Tyromany, which, like the former, flows into the Bay of Bengal. There are no lakes, but numerous tanks and ponds in the district. The climate is various in different parts of the country, but in general it is salubrious. Iron is the most important mineral production; and cotton, coffee, indigo, sugar, and tobacco are cultivated. Pop. 1,195,377.