30 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. [Part I. 



mountains. Manganese is abundant, and Iron occurs 

 in the form of magnetic iron ore, titanite, chromate, 

 yellow hydrated, per-oxide and iron pyrites. In most 

 of these, however, the metal is scanty, and the ores of 

 little comparative value, except for the extraction of man- 

 ganese and chrome. " But there is another description 

 of iron ore, " says Dr. Gygax, in his official report to the 

 Ceylon Government, " which is found in vast abundance, 

 brown and compact, generally in the state of carbonate, 

 though still blended with a httle chrome, and often 

 molybdena. It occurs in large masses and veins, one of 

 which extends for a distance of fifteen miles ; from it 

 milhons of tons might be smelted, and when found ad- 

 jacent to fuel and water-carriage, it might be worked t(3 

 a profit. The quality of the iron ore found in Ceylon 

 is singularly fine ; it is easily smelted, and so pm-e when 

 reduced as to resemble silver. The rough ore produces 

 from tliirty to seventy-jive per cent., and on an average 

 fully fifty. The h"on ^vrought from it requires no 

 puddling, and, converted into steel, it cuts lilce a dia- 

 mond. The metal could be laid down in Colombo 

 at £6 per ton, even supposing the ore to be brought 

 thither for smelting, and prepared with English coal ; 

 but anthracite being found upon the spot, it could be 

 used in the proportion of three to one of the British coal ; 

 and the cost correspondingly reduced. " 



Eemains of ancient furnaces are met with in all 

 du-ections precisely similar to those still in use amongst 

 the natives. The Singhalese obtain the ore they 

 require without the trouble of mining ; seeking a spot 

 where the soil has been loosened by the latest rains, 

 they break off a sufficient quantity, which, in less 

 than three hours, they convert into kon by the simplest 

 possible means. None of their furnaces are capable 

 of smelting more than twenty pounds of ore, and yet 

 this quantity yields from seven to ten pounds of good 

 metal. 



The anthracite alluded to by Dr. Gygax is found in 



