SO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. [PART I. 



mountains. Manganese is abundant, and iron occurs 

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

 yellow hydrate, 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 manganese 

 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 little chrome, and often molybdena. 

 It occurs in large masses and veins, one of which extends 

 for a distance of fifteen miles ; from it millions of tons 

 may be extracted, and when found adjacent to fuel and 

 water-carriage, it might be worked to a profit. The 

 quality of the iron ore found in Ceylon is singularly fine ; 

 it is easily smelted, and so pure when reduced as to re- 

 semble silver. The rough ore produces from thirty to 

 seventy-jive per cent., and on an average fully fifty. The 

 iron wrought from it requires no puddling, and, converted 

 into steel, it cuts like a diamond. 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 ; 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 

 directions 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 rains, they break off a suf^ 

 ficient quantity, which, in less than three hours, they 

 convert into iron 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 



