chap. vii. CAPABILITIES OF CEYLON. 141 



have fallen without being missed. The deepest 

 crimson, the brightest yellow and green of every shade, 

 combine to form a beautiful crest to the forest-covered 

 surface of the island. 



There is no doubt, however, that there is too much 

 wood in Ceylon ; it prevents the free circulation of air, 

 and promotes dampness, malaria, and consequently 

 fevers and dysentery, the latter disease being the 

 scourge of the colony. The low country is accordingly 

 decidedly unhealthy. 



This vast amount of forest and jungle is a great 

 impediment to the enjoyment of travelling. The 

 heat in the narrow paths cut through dense jungles is 

 extreme ; and after a journey of seventy or eighty 

 miles through this style of country the eye scans the 

 wild plains and mountains with delight. Some dis- 

 tricts, however, are perfectly devoid of trees, and 

 form a succession of undulating downs of short grass. 

 Other parts, again, although devoid of heavy timber, 

 are covered with dense thorny jungles, especially the 

 country adjoining the sea-coast, which is generally 

 of a uniform character round the whole island, being 

 interspersed with sand plains producing a short grass. 



Much has been said by some authors of the ' capa- 

 bilities ' of Ceylon ; but however enticing the descrip- 

 tion of these capabilities may have been, the proof 

 has been decidedly in opposition to the theory. Few 

 countries exist with such an immense proportion of 



