2 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



Every male inhabitant of Iranaitivu, man or boy, wears the cap 

 called " talaivaraipaddai," or "head basket," made of palmyra 

 olas, which, as stated above, the people of Chavakachcheri and 

 other parts of the Jaffna peninsula wear in wet weather, and he 

 makes it also answer the purpose of a pocket. In one examined we 

 found (1) a small looking glass 2 inches by 1, (2) betel-chewing 

 implements, (3) an ola containing arecanuts, &c. 



The people are all Pariah caste, and they only hve here during 

 the north-east monsoon. In the south-west monsoon they go to the 

 mainland and work as reapers. The men are well made and strong- 

 looking ; most of the women I saw were miserable looking. 



In the afternoon went round the village. The people Hve in 

 round low huts, like the Vanni huts, which are secured when they 

 leave the island by locks and keys made of wood.* 



The following is an extract from Mr. Wright's report on the 

 botany of Iranaitivu : — ■" It is interesting to note the occurrence of 

 the lemon citronella oil grass {Andropogon scheinanthus) , a species 

 cultivated in India, and considered to yield an oil much more valu- 

 able than that obtained from the citronella oil grass {Andropogon 

 nardus) in the low-country of Ceylon. The apparatus required is 

 very simple and cheap, and the cultivation of this grass should be 

 encouraged. The cultivation of this plant should be carried out in 

 rotation with castor oil plants, fibi^es. and indigo." 



THE RUDDEK OF AN IRANAITIVU BALLAM. 



The people use ballams without outriggers, which come from 

 Cochin. They have a quaint-shaped rudder, which I have not seen 

 on the Jaffna ballams. 



There are three Roman Cathohc churches, two on the east and 

 one on the west island. They are built of coral stone, and two at 

 least are tiled, but the masonry is of a very rough description. 



There is a square trigonometrical tower so close to the chief 

 Roman Catholic church that from the sea it looks as if it belonged 

 to it. It is about 40 or 50 feet high, but there is no ladder or stair- 



* I have sent one of these wooden locks of Iranaitivu to the Colombo 

 Museum. 



