TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THE JAFFNA ISLANDS. U 



I was surprised to see some umbrella trees {Acacia planifrons , 

 Tarn, udai) growing here. This is the great tree of Mannar island, 

 but there are none anywhere in the Jaffna or MuUaittivu Districts 

 except those m this island, which is curious. They grow on the 

 mainland opposite Mannar island, in places along the Madawachchi 

 road as far as the 25th mile from Mannar, and then cease. What 

 are the conditions in this island which induce the tree to select it, 

 and nowhere else in the Jaffna District, to grow in ? 



The only other trees, besides the palmyra, coconut, and the udai 

 tree, are margosa {Azadirachta, indica), tuUp tree {Thespesia popul- 

 nea), and tillai {Sapium insigne). There is a jak tree in the Police 

 Vidane's compound, also some mangoes planted by him. 



The Maniagar also tells me that male palmyra trees sometimes 

 turn female, which seems a curious thing if true. The Kachcheri 

 MudaUyar confirms this statement from his own experience. 



The population of the island has increased since 1881 from 227 to 

 324 (1901), or by nearly 43 per cent. 



December 10.— Returned to Kayts in the morning. We got 

 over quickly, the wind not being unfavourable. It must have been 

 from the N. or N.W. and not from the N.E. The boatmen say 

 that in the afternoon it would be from the N.E. Fort Hammenhiel, 

 rising out of the sea on the left, is picturesque (for description of this 

 fort see " Ceylon Literary Register," Vol. I., p. 24). 



Karaitivu. 



December 11. — With regard to the Karaitivu people, the money- 

 lenders of the district, the explanation of their flourishing condition 

 is that they are the most economical of the Jaffna people — the most 

 Jaffnese of the Jaffnese in fact — and it is stated as an instance of 

 the former characteristic that even women of well-to-do families 

 work in the fields, which is not the case elsewhere in Jaffna, though 

 the women of the poorer classes of course do. The Karaitivu 

 people go everywhere, the Straits, &c., and save every penny. 

 Hence it is not surprising that Karaitivu is one of the most pros- 

 perous " parishes " in Jaffna. 



Nayinativu. 



Nayinativu is just opposite Punkudutivu on the west. It is 

 chiefly noted for its festival, which takes place annually in July, 

 lasts ten days, and is attended by from 7,000 to 23,000 people ; and 

 for its chank fisheries carried out by some of its diving population 

 and by Moormen from the Coast. It is 2| miles long by half a mile 

 wide, and is intersected by a road running lengthwise through it, 

 the temple being at the north end and the Government bungalow 



