Ceylon Literati^ and Agricultural Society. 149 



the operations of the understanding, will carry the human 

 mind. Their system seems to combine all the old absurdities 

 of European ignorance upon this important topic, with an 

 abundance of truly Indian origin. 



" To our late very worthy member. Colonel Wright, we 

 owe some very ingenious observations upon the action of the 

 quicksilver in a barometer within the Tropics, and particularly 

 the curious fact of its periodical rising and falling twice within 

 24 hours so regularly, as to afford almost an opportunity of 

 measiu"ing the lapse of time by this instrument. 



"Professor Rask, a gentleman travelling for the purpose of 

 science under the patronage of the King of Denmark, having 

 been detained for some time in this island, was kind enough to 

 become an Honorary Member of our Society. He has given 

 to us a most elaborate and valuable Treatise upon the Con- 

 struction of a General Alphabet, adapted to all the Indian 

 dialects — a scheme which, if it could be adopted, at least with 

 respect to printed communications, would much abridge the 

 labours of learned men in investigating subjects connected 

 with India. 



" Our highly respected member, Mr. Lusignan, has fur- 

 nished us with an accurate Observation of a late Transit of 

 Mercury. 



" In a short paper upon the Maranta arufidinacea, or In- 

 dian Arrow-Root, Mr. Moon has pointed out the proper ma- 

 nagement of a vegetable only lately introduced into Ceylon, 

 but promising, from its facility of growth and the simplicity 

 with which it is rendered fit food, to add much to the comforts 

 of its inhabitants. 



" To extend the usefulness of our Institution, we have re- 

 solved to include Agriculture in the subjects to which our atten- 

 tion is directed. The communications in this instance have been 

 few in addition to Mr. Moon's : we have, however, from Mr. 

 Vanderlaan some important suggestions, and from an anony- 

 mous contributor an Essay on the Horticulture of Ceylon, 

 which, however, present too discouraging a view of the subject 

 to induce us to give it more extensive circulation. 



" From our wordiy Members, Mr. Marshall, Mr, Bennett, 

 Mr. De Saram, and from Count Ranzow, we have received 

 papers relating to subjects of Natural History, adding to our 

 .stock of information in that department of science. 



*' Our efforts towards compiling catalogues of the Natural 

 I listory of Ceylon have been, to a certain degree, successful. 

 Some (vvc wish we could say a majority) of the list of queries 

 circulated with that view have been returned in a very satis- 

 factory manner; in this we have to notice tlic zeal and diligence 



of 



