KNOWLllDGi: 



January, 191. 



HcntTally si-vcral tiinrs ^r'atii tliaii llial wliiili is 

 (.'ventually arcrptiii. and In contiiinal haiUiiiin. llx 

 Rem cliaiiRfs liaiids repeatedly. 



Also, tlicrc are ever refidy pilferiiif,' lin^'ers to 



I'KILKi; 11. 



A Moor L;ipidary, Ceylon. 



purloin Iroiii tlie rij^'htful owner, or to substitute an 

 inferior stone for one of good quality. The diggers 

 and washers are continualK- watched to prevent 

 anything of the kind from taking place. 



It is a matter of great difficulty for Europeans to 

 obtain details or photographs of the gemming 

 industry, for the natives are verv 

 jealous and secretive, and object to 

 company upon their e.xpeditions. 

 They are also exceedingly super- 

 stitious, and beliese in all sorts of 

 devils and evil omens : they will not 

 even allow one of their own women 

 to go near a gem-pit. becau.se she 

 would be sure to bring bad luck to it. 



There are several extensive districts 

 in the island where precious stones 

 occur, but the most productive localitv 

 is the hilly country of Saffragan. the 

 chief town of which is Katnainira. or 

 in other words " the city of rubies.'" 



Nearly all the different kinds of 

 gems arc found occurring together, 

 the excejitions being moonstones, 

 amethysts, and alexandrites, the last 

 of which are principallv derived fiom 

 (ialle. 



The natives have a great jireju- 

 dice against sending gems out of the 

 island in the rough state, and alwass 

 cut and polish them locally. This is 



due to iheir an.M' ' il\ to what extent 



the beauty of each .-.luuc i.s tlcveiu|)ed by tile cutting, 

 and thus accurately to estimate the value. They do 

 not care to part w illi the rough stones, for liuropeans 

 to reap th(; benefit r)f .any increase in 

 v.ilue. 



The cutting and polishing is done 

 bv the Singhalese upon |)erpendicular 

 leaden wheels, smeared with emery, 

 against one side of which the gem is 

 jiressed with the left hand, while the 

 w heel is rotated bv means of a bow 

 and cord heW in the right. (See 

 Figures 10 and 11.) The whole 

 apparatus is most simple and primi- 

 live, the success of the work de- 

 [lending entirely u])on the skill of the 

 o|)erator. 



The cutters S(piat ujion their 

 haunches behind the wheels, and 

 sometimes an overseer watches the 

 progress of work to prevent theft. 

 (See Figure 10.) Much of the cutting 

 is done by the roadside in view of 

 every passer-by, but many little 

 " tricks of the trade" are withheld 

 from public view. 



The native gem-cutters" chief 



object is to so manipulate the 



precious stone that the maximum of 



size and weight is retained, often to 



the sacrifice of symmetry and brilliancw The\- are 



wonderfully adept at retaining and regulating the 



colour, which in some gem-stones is not of uniform 



density throughout. and in dexterousl\- hiding feathers 



and Haws. Owing, however, to irregularity, and also 



tile want of .symmetry and proper proportion, it is 



Tlir gems of Ceylon arc rcciit in Europe 



