No. 12.— 1860-1.] BADULLA AND ITS PRODUCTS. 409 



It is remarkable that the word triphala, commonly used 

 by the Sinhalese quacks to include decoction of the three 

 Myrobalans, is a Sanskrit word, derived originally from a 

 very ancient work, which according to Professor Wilson was 

 written before the 9th or 10th century. (Royle.) It is stated 

 by the Jury Report of the Madras Exhibition, that Gall 

 nuts " have become a very important article of trade, and 

 the consumption is now fully 2,000 tons annually." \ Archer.) 



Indigo.— 1 submitted specimens prepared from the Indigo- 

 fera tinctoria growing wild at Dikwella, near the Badulhi 

 oya and paddy fields. It is found in groups. I collected a 

 quantity of the plant in July 1855, and subjected it to the 

 keeping process which is generally adopted in Bengal. The 

 plants attain a good height, and from their luxuriant growth 

 shew that the soil and climate of Badulla are well adapted 

 for its cultivation. 



I subjoin an extract from x letter, dated 9th October, 1855, 

 from the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Colombo. 



"Iam requested by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to 

 acknowledge your letter of the 25th September, and to thank you for 

 the sample of Indigo forwarded. I am also requested to inform you 

 that the quality of it is good, taking into consideration the circumstances 

 under which it lias been prepared." 



(Signed) R, Nicol." 



Fibres. 



Fibre is the modification of single cells. Fibre from 

 PMdogens is generally white, and contains more lignine or 

 woody matter ; hence it is less adapted to resist strain, and 

 possesses less flexibility and softness than that from exogens. 



The fibres of endogens most commonly applied to useful 

 purposes are derived from leaves, as the aloes, agave, yucca 

 or Adam's needle, sanseviera, fourcroya or gigantic aloe, 

 ananas or pine-apple ; and from sterns, as the musa or 

 plantain ; and from the husk of seeds, as the coconut palm ; 

 and from the sheath of the leaves of the jaggery palm 

 or kitul, the black horse-hair-like fibre. From the exo- 

 gens we derive many valuable kinds, viz., flax, rhea or China 



