104 CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY;. 



advances to them during the course of the season, a very small; 

 portion of this is really handed over to them. From the mo-, 

 inent that the Kottoos are opened, all expenses are borne by Go- 

 vernment, who buys the salt at the fixed rate of two pence and 

 one-eighth per bushel. From the stores the country in general 

 is supplied ; the various purchasers being furnished by the Go- 

 vernment Agent with orders for the quantity they require ; pre- 

 payment at the rate of two shillings and eight pence per bushel 

 being in every case requisite. In those districts where salt is 

 manufactured, no one is allowed to trade in it except certain 

 retailers licensed by Government, who receive it at the above 

 rate and sell it at the same, being allowed a commission of 

 two per cent on the amount of their transactions; eighty lbs. 

 being in every case considered as the weight of one bushel. 



So soon however as salt has been removed beyond the limits 

 ©f the district, no further restrictions on its sale or price are 

 enforced. 



On a review of the system above described, it is quite evi- 

 dent, that it is in many respects capable of much improve-, 

 merit \ and a few of the existing defects may be briefly 

 pointed out. 



In the first place, it is apparent that a much larger quantity 

 of salt could be procured if the natives could be induced to 

 lay aside some portion of their characteristic apathy and commence 

 operations at a much earlier period : at present nothing what* 

 ever is done until several weeks of dry weather have con- 

 vinced them that there is no longer the slightest chance ot rain, 

 Even on the continent of Europe, (at Schoonebeck near Magde- 

 burg) operations are carried on in the open air during about 

 258 days in the year, while at Putlam, reckoning from the 25th 

 ,June to the 15th September, only Si are employed, although it 

 appears from observations continued during several years, that 

 there is very seldom rain after the middle of May 8 and that for some 

 weeks before only occasional showers occur* 



