432 THE XORTHERX FORESTS. [Part IX. 



species, the U. marginalis, produces small pearls. Palu- 

 dince and Limncei swarm amongst the wet sedges, and 

 a white Planorbis (P. indica ?) creeps up the stems 

 of the bulrushes, and boldly launching itself on the 

 still water, floats across it by means of its expanded 

 foot. 



The impression left on my mind by the inspection of 

 this magnificent work, and confirmed by subsequent 

 examination of many specimens of the ancient tanks 

 throughout the northern di^dsions of the island, induced 

 me in 1848 to submit to the Council at Colombo, a 

 project for initiating by legislative authority, and under 

 the control of government officers, measm-es for the 

 gradual restoration of some of these important reservou's. 

 The suggestion was adopted \ but occiu-rences which 

 afterwards disturbed the tranquillity of the island, pre- 

 vented the carrjing out of my plans, and the distinction 

 Avas reserved for a subsequent governor, Su* Henry G. 

 Ward, not only to promulgate an orchnance to facihtate 

 the revival of the ancient customs regarding irrigation ^, 

 but to contribute to the promotion of this great national 

 object in the eastern and southern provinces, both by 

 the encoiu*agement of the Government, and by the 

 apphcation of funds at its disposal. 



The sentiments not less than the interests of the 

 Singhalese people are deeply involved in this question. 

 The stupendous ruins of their reservoirs are the proudest 

 monuments wliich remain of the former greatness of 

 their country, when the opulence which they engendered 

 enabled the kings to lavish untold wealth upon edifices 

 of rehgion, to subsidise mercenary armies, and to fit 

 out expeditions for foreign conquest. Exce2:)ting the 



' In tlie Leorislative Council, Gtli 

 November, 1848, the attention of 

 the Home Government had been 

 previou.'^ly directed to tlie subject of 

 adopting preliminary measiu'es for 

 restoring the cultivation of rice by 



repairin<r the ruined tanks. (See Sir 

 .7. Emersox Tkxxext's Report on 

 the Finance and Commerce of Cci/loti. 

 ParUamentary Papers, 1848, p. 69.) 

 - Ordinance, No. 9, 1850. 



