112 



CEYLON BRANCH 



Again, the method adopted in receiving over the salt is 

 so very tedious, that many months elapse before it can be stored, 

 during which time it is exposed to much risk and serious de- 

 terioration. 



Lastly, it may be observed, that the many valuable salts 

 contained in the ley after the deposit has been formed, are 

 either quite lost or are obtained intermingled with the wished 

 for product, which is consequently found to be exceedingly 

 liable to deliquescence ; but probably the extraction of these 

 would prove too complicated a process to be conducted by 

 natives. 



The salt collected in the North-western Province varies in 

 colour from pure white to dull grey or reddish, according to 

 the impurities contained in it ; it appears in the form of a con- 

 fused crystalline mass consisting of hollow quadrilateral py- 

 ramids with graduated surfaces (pied de mouche) and of cubes. 

 The large grained salt is generally preferred, as it does not 

 absorb moisture from the atmosphere so rapidly as that which 

 is in smaller crystals. It is to be observed that the former is 

 obtained in the first crop, the latter in those which succeed; 

 and no one can feel astonished that these latter should prove 

 impure, when it is remembered, that all except the first crops, 

 are procured from a mixture of sea-water with the previously 

 obtained residuary solution of various lime and magnesia salts. 



The natives have observed the difference in appearance of 

 the various salts procured at the different crops, but do not 

 seem to be aware that a most impure article is obtained by 

 mixing all together. 



The manufacture of salt in Ceylon being a Government 

 monopoly, being one of great importance, and one which it is 

 not at present considered prudent to discontinue, (the present 

 average annual produce may be reckoned a,t two hundred and. 



