440 Report on the Island of Chedocba, [No. 114. 



placing it on a par with those which if more fertile or sooner exhausted, 

 from generation to generation the same lands being yearly cultivated 

 without manure; traces of lands lying fallow it is true, were discoverable 

 in many parts, and sometimes extensively, but on enquiry they proved 

 to be those which had fallen out of cultivation from the decrease of 

 population attendant on the disturbed state of all these countries for 

 many tens of years previous to our occupation of them, and not from 

 exhaustion of the productiveness of the soil. But the clayey nature of 

 the soil appears to make it liable to yearly improvement by a process of 

 manuring of natural occurrence, and which is most effective where most 

 needed, in the newer soils of the lately upraised lands. 



During the dry weather the surface of the soil becomes cracked in every 

 direction to a considerable depth, but mostly so in the above lands, where 

 a stiffer clay is found, and into these cracks dried leaves and grass at such 

 times fall in considerable quantity. 



A custom is also prevalent of burning the dry grass, stubble, &c, every 

 year at the close of the dry season, the ashes from which are therefore 

 all ready to be washed deep into the body of the soil, by the first heavy 

 rains of the monsoon, which do not close the large openings for some 

 time. The large quantities of Coral and Madrepore distributed over the 

 surface of the new plains, is also by this practice of annually burning very 

 much aided in its decomposition. 



I was informed by a native that the extensive new plain of the N. W. 

 part of the Island, which was raised out of the sea about 90 years ago, 

 was only then acquiring its first covering of grass when visited by him 

 15 years after its elevation. That produce now covers most parts of it 

 high and luxuriant enough to screen a buffaloe from sight, while other 

 parts yield ample crops of rice, and where not otherwise claimed, the jun- 

 gle is fast taking possession of it, especially over those more rocky portions 

 which have on them the greatest amount of Coral. 



The clay soil of this plain is shewn in No. 1, compartment. Embosomed 

 in trees on the old N. W. point of Chedooba, and therefore just within 

 the border of the above plain, stands the village of Tanghee, the soil of 

 its neighbourhood includes a larger amount of vegetable mould, than is 

 to be found in that of the plain so low as will be seen by the specimen of 

 it in No. 2. 



This soil may be taken as representing all the cultivated soils of the 

 western part of the Island which lie within the limits of the old beach 

 time. It amply repays all labour bestowed on it, though such labour is at 

 present small, owing to the smaller amount of population to be found in 





