534 THE XORTHERX FOEESTS. [Part IX. 



sweet-potatoes, keere (or countiy cabbage), arrow-root, 

 and gram. In these carefully tended little farms weeds 

 are nowliere to be seen ; the walks between the different 

 beds are straight and accurately clean ; and, from the 

 profusion of Avater with which they are supphed, there is 

 a freshness and cool verdure over these beautiful fields 

 which singularly contrasts witli the arid and sun-scorched 

 plains that surround them. 



But the grand staple of the thstrict, and that on which 

 the prosperity of its agriculture is chiefly dependent, is 

 tobacco, for the excellence of which Jaffna has long been 

 celebrated in the South of India; and at a former 

 period it was in equal request in Sumatra, Java, and 

 the Eastern Ai'chipelago. The export is now almost 

 confined to Travancore, the Eaja of which has an agent 

 resident at Jaffna to purchase up the produce from tlie 

 growers. It is on the breadtli and success of this crop 

 that the extent and excellence of aU the others are 

 mainly dependent; for, as the gi'ound requires to be 

 highly prepared for tobacco, two and even three crops of 

 a less exliausting description are afterwards taken off it 

 in succession, without additional manuring ; whilst the 

 increasino; demand for tobacco causes new land to be 

 broken up for its growth, thus stimulating a constantly 

 progressive improvement in the culture of fJl the inferior 

 lands. 



The dry grains (as contradistinguished from rice, 

 which is grown in water), produced in Jaffna are more 

 numerous than those cultivated in other parts of Ceylon, 

 varagoo^, kolloo, millet, moondi/, and pulse of various 

 kinds being raised in addition to coracan^, and gingele.^ 

 The necessity of importing a portion of the rice con- 

 sumed within the district is thus compensated to some 

 extent, since the inhabitants are enabled to export their 



^ Paspalnm frumodaceum. I ^ Svsamum Orkntcde. 



' Cijnosurm corocanns. \ 



