SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THE JAFFNA ISLANDS. 



By J. P. Lewis, M.A., CCS. 

 With a Map. 



Iranaitivu. 



November 30, 1904. — A fine morning. Started for Iranaitivu in 

 the " Serendib " with Messrs. Ingles and Hornell. Got off about 11 

 and arrived about 3 p.m. Went ashore and put up our tents. The 

 huts erected for the accommodation of the Government Agent and 

 other officials are roofless, the natives having helped themselves to 

 the cadjans. 



The appearance of the island is pleasing, plants of low meadow- 

 like grass with clumps of suriya trees here and there, under which 

 are the huts of the islanders, who are all fishers and of Pariah caste, 

 but fine, strong-looking men. They all wear the rain cap made of 

 palmyra ola, which is worn by the people of the neighbourhood of 

 Chavakachcheri in the wet season, and which from its shape, not 

 unlike the " canoe cap " of the British private, gives them a sort of 

 smart appearance. It is decidedly effective, chbilp, and useful. 



December 1. — Weatlier still fine. Went to see the beche-de-mer 

 curing places on tlie east island. There was a Moorman trader at 

 one and a Chinaman at the other. The latter, being an expert as 

 regards beche-de-mer is employed by traders at Rs. 10 a month to 

 buy the beche-de-mer from the fishermen and to look after the 

 curing. This young man is the son of a Chinaman, who was well 

 known in Jaffna, and who at one time was very rich, but afterwards 

 managed to lose all his money through the Chetties, it is stated. 

 His son is penniless. The Moorman had a lot of jaggery in little 

 packets made of palmyra leaf. He told us that he gave four in 

 exchange for one beche-de-mer, but the fishermen did not admit 

 this. The value of each basket is one cent. The truth seemed to 

 be that he gave four for a very good specimen. 



I noticed a coconut shell containing oil hanging up at the hut, and 

 found that it was used by the fishermen for making the water clear 

 when searching for beche-de-mer. An experiment was tried with 

 it, and it certainly seemed to have some effect, a semi-circle of 

 clearer water gradually began to show itself. The oil is obtained 

 from the liver of the shark. 



B 8-07 



