GUIDE TO THE COLOMBO MUSEUM. 173 



There is also a model of a chekku (native oil mill) shown. This 

 is used by the natives for extractmg coconut oil from copra (the 

 dried kernel of the coconut) . It is a simple and inexpensive method , 

 and although not so effective as the steam machinery introduced by 

 Europeans for the same purpose, it has held its ground against 

 steam crushes and hydraulic presses, and notwithstanding the 

 erection of large steam oil mills, the chekku or bullock mill still 

 continues to exist in Ceylon. 



Boats and Fishery Appliances (Case 31). 



The objects mider this head are not well represented for want of 

 room. Among boats will be found the " dhoney " (a native sailing 

 craft), "kattumarams," a Negombo canal "padda" boat, out- 

 rigger boat, passenger boats, a double canoe, a river raft, and a 

 model of a boat used in the pearl fisheries, with crew and divers. 

 On a side of the pearl fishery boat model will be found a diver's 

 sinldng stone and pearl diver's coir basket, which were used in the 

 1904 fishery. 



Among the boats the " kattumarams " are the rudest and most 

 primitive of any description of craft. They are extremely safe, and 

 cannot be sunk when turned by the breakers. The dhoney with 

 ballam is the craft which performs the coast carrymg trade of the 

 Island, and is built on the south coast. The square-rigged country 

 craft are built in the small ports of the north. They vary m size 

 from twenty to seventy tons burthen ; the square-rigged vessels 

 are owned by Moormen chiefly and the dhonies by Sinhalese, who 

 work in shares with the crew. The owner receives one -third of the 

 vessel's earnings, the remainmg two-thirds being divided between 

 tindal or commander and crew, the former's shai*e being twice that 

 of each of the others. Eight to fifteen men compose the crew of a 

 dhoney. A considerable coasting trade during the fine weather of 

 the north-east monsoon is done m these crafts. They carry coral 

 from the northern districts of the Island to the south-west coast of 

 India, returning with Indian commodities. The rigging is made of 

 country -made coir rope, their sails of home-grown, home-spun 

 cotton, their hulls of a light but durable wood, the planks and keel 

 containing no metal nails, everything being held together by means 

 of wooden pegs and coir yarn. 



Various fishmg appliances are shown, but this collection is not a 

 representative one. 



Case 33. 



This case, which stands m the centre of the room, contains small 

 painted models of the various types of inhabitants of the Island. 



NORTH VERANDAH (Room D). 



Products of the Coconut Palm (Case 23). 



The coconut palm is the most valuable of the trees of the Island 

 of Ceylon. Case 23 is assigned to the products of the " King of 

 Palms " {Gocos nucifera). The uses of the coconut are endless 



