Mineralogy of the Island of Ceylon. 193 
“As far as my sources of information (which perhaps are 
not as good as your own,) enable me to state, I can say, that 
compared with most parts of the world, the precious stones 
in Ceylon are numerous; but not of a particularly fine 
quality. The ruby, the topaz and the diamond, are said to 
be much inferior to those of Brazil and Golconda ; and the 
tourmalines here are destitute of electric qualities. With- 
out pretending to any thing like an enumeration of all the 
minerals, I shall mention some of the more important, and 
their classification according to the Wernerian system. TI. 
Diamond Genus. 1. Diamond. This is inferiour to the 
diamond of Golconda, or the Coromandel Coast, which is 
better, even than that of Brazil; but, like the former, I 
believe crystalizes in Octahedrons, and exhibits all the va- 
rieties of that primitive form. JI. Zircon Genus. 1. Cin- 
namon stone. I have seen several specimens of this, but 
am able to say nothing of its comparative qualities. It is 
rather common, I believe, in the interior. 2. Hyacinth. 
This is of a reddish color—may be rendered white by fire, 
and is thencalled Jargon. It is heavier even than the dia- 
mond, and like that, exhibits but one refraction, which in- 
deed is common, I believe, to most of the Oriental stones. 
Ill. Flint Genus.(a) Garnet Family. 1. Garnet. They / 
Family. 1. Sapphires, blue and green, and heavier than 
those of Brazil. 2. Ceylanite of which I know only the 
name. 3. Topaz. This assumes the Octahedral form.(c) 
Shorl Family. 1. Emerald. The Emerald of this Island 
is, I believe, fine. 2. Shorl. 3. Tourmaline. The con- 
stituents are alumine, 50. silex, 34. lime, 11.iron, 5. It is 
said not to be electric, but | cannot answer to the truth of 
it, especially as I know it is usually reckoned as electric, 
when heated to 200° of Fahrenheit.(d) Quartz Family. 
1, Quartz—Amethyst. 2. Rock Crystal, (black and white.) 
3. Carnelian. 4. Opal. (1 species) 5. Cats-eye. This 
has a point, near the middle, from which greenish traces 
seem to proceed, ina circle. It is rather plentiful. Of 
the metals, Jead, tin and iron ore are found in the interior; 
the latter only is wrought, and on a small scale. The na- 
tives have long been accustomed to work small quantities 
ofthe ore in small fires made by the operation of hand bel- 
Vou. VI.—No. 1. 25 
