CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASTATIC SOCIETY. 17& 



ding forest, the coolness and balminess of the air, and the cloudi- 

 ness of the sky, not unfrequently recalling to one's mind the joy- 

 ous spring of Britain. 



With regard to the healthiness of the place, it is almost 

 unnecessary to say that a favourable verdict must be given: the ra- 

 tio of sickness is in itself not great, and even this is chiefly 

 made up by cases of fever, which merely prove a temporary 

 inconvenience, and only in extremely rare cases produce any- 

 permanent effects on the constitution. 



I have now, however imperfectly, completed my task. It is 

 unnecessary to state that I have made no attempt at theory, 

 that I have brought forward nothing new. I have simply con- 

 firmed the statements or opinions of others, merely written down 

 that which is patent to all, and perhaps on this very account 

 neglected and unknown by many. From its very nature a pa- 

 per of this kind cannot in itself possess any great interest, the 

 sphere is too contracted and consequently the deductions too 

 liable to error and objection ; as one of a series it may how- 

 ever, be useful. The data for such a series are in existence ; 

 collection, comparison, and generalization is all that is now 

 requisite in order to produce a most valuable account of the 

 climate of Ceylon. 



Should on the other hand, the data referred to be considered 

 as wanting in precision, so much more urgent is the call on us 

 to commence without further delay, a series of observations not 

 at one, or at two, but at many selected stations throughout the 

 Island. Even now Ceylon is so closely studded with Govern- 

 ment establishments, that one can scarce draw a line of fifty 

 miles in length on any part of it, without finding ourself in the 

 neighbourhood of some Government office and some Govern- 

 ment official. The opportunity is a tempting one, no great sum 

 would he required to furnish a number of these stations with a 

 few of the more useful meteorological instruments, intelligent na- 



