488 THE XORTHERN FORESTS. [Pakt IX. 



Dierce ; or best calculated to encourage industry and 

 promote the internal prosperity of the Singhalese.^ 



For years after the occupation of Ceylon by the 

 British, the new conquerors Avere influenced by the 

 same motives as theu* predecessors ; and their planta- 

 tions of cinnamon Avere guarded as the only sources of 

 income. For the security of these valuable possessions 

 of the croAvn, it had become indispensable to retain the 

 residence of the Governor in their immediate vicinity; 

 and hence the continued retention of Colombo as the 

 ■capital of the colony. 



Within recent years, however, the ch'cumstances of 

 the island have materially altei'cd. Cinnamon has not 

 only ceased to be a Government monopoly, but it has 

 ceased to be productive to the rcA'enue, even as an article 

 of general export. Instead of one pampered object of cul- 

 tivation engrossing all care and influencing all pohcy, 

 other interests, not local or exclusive, but popidar and 

 universal, have grown up in every part of the island, 

 demanding an equal share of encoiu*agement, and ad- 

 vancing an equal claim to pubhc attention. Hence the 

 question of the position most suitable, conventionally as 

 well as geographically, for the seat of government, and 

 the centre of trade and its operations, has been akeady 

 mooted and warmly discussed in Ceylon.- 



At some distance from the sea, the soil in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Colombo is of the poorest and least 

 productive description, a stiff unyielding clay, Avith a 

 shght admixture of vegetable mould on the surface, 

 capable of bearing rice, but only after frequent falloAvs, 

 and Avith the most laborious cultivation, for the main- 

 tenance of Avhich the supply of Avater is by no means 

 abundant. On the other hand, tlu'oughout tlie country 

 to the Avest of TrincomaUe, the soil, except in the imme- 



1 See Vaxextyx, Oud oi Xiemc I 2 .^jj. jj q Ward's Minute on 



Oost-Indien, ch. xii. p. 149 ; cli. 

 xiii. p. 165. 



the Eastern Province, 1850. 



