Suffar Mannfacfure Vnsucces^fd. 279 



While the cultivation of the coffee-plant has been followed 

 by such splendid results, the repeated attempts to introduce 

 the sugar-cane have been on the contrary as uniformly 

 failures — so that of the numerous plantations established by 

 Europeans, there are at present no more than five remaining. 

 In all those localities where the temperature seemed adapted 

 to the growth of the sugar-cane, the nature of the soil, and 

 the too great humidity have prevented its thriving. 



On the other hand, the island possesses two natural 

 products in which but few spots on tlie globe are qualified 

 to enter the lists with her, and which may be expected to 

 increase in value and importance in proportion as science 

 assumes her share in their exploration. These products are 



PEARLS and PRECIOUS STONES. 



The most productive pearl banks lie on the west coast of 

 Ceylon, between the 8th and 9th degrees of North latitude, 

 near the level, dreary beach of Condatchy, Aripo, and 

 Manaar. The pearl fisheries are a monopoly, and, therefore, 

 under the inspection of the Government. Former governors 

 had counted too much on the abundance of this natural trea- 

 sure, and in their blind haste to fill the coffers of the State, 

 had so exhausted the banks, that suddenly, from a source of 

 revenue they became an item of considerable deficiency, 

 and, from 1838 to 1854, could no longer be dredged. From 



the coffee plantations since 1848, and tliis branch of cultivation has nevertheless 

 increased so siirprisingly since tlien, there seems no reason to dread that the coffee 

 plant will suffer by these bugs, in the same manner or to the same extent as the vine 

 by the ravages of the fundus. 



