Volume 1

Ceylon : a general description of the island, historical, physical, statistical. Containing the most recent information / by an officer, late of the Ceylon rifles.

  • Suckling, Horatio John.
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ceylon : a general description of the island, historical, physical, statistical. Containing the most recent information / by an officer, late of the Ceylon rifles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. PART I. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. CHAPTER I. a KOLOG Y. —MINERALOGY.—GE MS. Page I. Geyieral Aspect. Singular beauty of the island . 3 Its ancient renown in conse- quence 4 Fable of its “perfumed winds” (note) 4 Character of the scenery . . 5 II. Geographical Position ... 6 Ancient views regarding it a- mongstthe Hindus,—“the Me- ridian of Lanka ”, . .6 Buddhist traditions of former submersions . . . (note) 7 Errors as to the dimensions of Ceylon 8 Opinions of Onesicritus, Erato- sthenes, Strabo, P]iny,Ptolemy, Agathemerus . . . . 8,9 The Arabian geographers . . 9 Sumatra supposed to be Ceylon (note) 10 True latitude and longitude . 11 General Fraser’s map of Ceylon (note) 11 Geological formation . . .12 Adam’s Bridge . . . .13 Error of supposing Ceylon to be a detached fragment of India . 14 III. The Mountain System . . 14 Remarkable hills, Mihintala and Sigiri 15 Little evidence of volcanic action 16 Rocks, gneiss . . . .16 Rock temples . . . .17 Laterite or “ Cabook ” . .17 Ancient nameTamba-panni (note) 17 Coral formation . . .19 Extraordinary wells . . .21 Darwin’s theory of coral wells examined . . . (note) 22 The soil of Ceylon generally poor 24 “ Patenas,” their phenomena ob- scure 24 Rice lands between the hills . 26 Soil of the plains, “ Talawas ” . 27 Page IV. Metals.—T\n . . .29 Gold, nickel, cobalt . . .29 Quicksilver . . . (note) 29 Iron ...... 30 Y. Minerals.—Anthracite, plumbago, kaolin, nitre caves . . .31 List of Ceylon minerals . (note) 32 YI. Gems, ancient fame of . . 32 Rose-coloured quartz . . (note) 33 hlode of searching for gems . 34 Rubies . . . . .36 Sapphire, topaz, garnet, and cinnamon stone, cat’s-eye, amethyst, moonstone . 37, 38 Diamond not found in Ceylon (note) 38 Gem-fmders and lapidaries . 39 YII. Rivers.—Their character . . 40 The Mahawelli-ganga . . '41 Table of the rivers . . .41 VIII. Singular coast formation, and its causes . . . .43 The currents and their influence 44 Word “ Gobb ” explained 44, (note) 46 Vegetation of the sand forma- tions 48 Their suitability for the coco- nut 51 IX. Harbours. — Galle and Trinco- malie . 52 Tides .... . . 0 2 Ited infusoria . 53 Population of Ceylon . . 53 CHAP. II. CLIMATE.—HEALTH AND DISEASE Uniformity of temperature . . 54 Brilliancy of foliage . . . .56 Colombo.—January—longshore wind 56 February—cold nights . . (note) 57 March, April . . . . .68 May—S.W. monsoon . . .68 Aspect of the country before it .59 Lightning . . . . .60 Rain, its violence . . . .61 June ....... 62 3