Capabilities of Ceylon. 129 



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 decid- 

 edly unhealthy. 



This vast mass of forest and jungle is a great impedi- 

 ment to the enjoyment of traveling. 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 moun- 

 tains with delight. Some districts, however, are per- 

 fectly devoid of trees, and form a succession of undu- 

 lating downs of short grass. Other parts, again, al- 

 though 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 sandy 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 coun- 

 tries exist with such an immense proportion of bad soil. 

 There are no minerals except iron, no limestone except 

 dolomite, no other rocks than quartz and gneiss. The 

 natural pastures are poor ; the timber of the forests is 

 the only natural production of any value, with the ex- 

 ception of cinnamon. Sugar estates do not answer, 

 and coffee requires an expensive system of cultivation 

 by frequent manuring. In fact, the soil is wretched ; 



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