420 



JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. III. 



" Nitrat of lime I have never met with, excepting in combination 

 with nitre. Sulphat of magnesia I have found in one place only, 

 viz., the nitre cave of Memoora in Doombera. In the same cave, 

 and no where else, I discovered alum, in minute quantity. I suspect 

 that the acid of both these salts is derived from decomposing of pyrites, 

 and that the magnesia of the sulphat is afforded by decomposing 

 talc. This sulphat forms with the nitre, and crystallizes with it. 

 It is carefully picked out and rejected by the native workmen who 

 prepare the saltpetre, being ignorant of its value. A considerable 

 quantity of it, equal to the best Epsom salt, might be procured in 

 this cave, and I know no reason why it should not be collected."* 



Appendix. 



BaduUa, 19th July, 1856. 

 Sie,— I beg leave to submit for the consideration of Government, 

 that I have been since the year 1853 experimenting upon various 

 indigenous vegetable products with the object of finding a material 

 adapted for the manufacture of paper, and which could be obtained in 

 quantity and at a cheap cost. And I am now able to say that I have 

 succeeded in manufacturing the accompanying specimens of paper 

 from a shrub which grows plentifully in the district of Uva. This 

 paper it may be observed possesses the property of combining less 

 weight with greater tenacity than that made of rags, and is peculi- 

 arly suited for a tropical climate. 



2. With the very rude machinery I have at present, I am pre- 

 pared to manufacture four or five reams per diem by a process 

 similar to that adopted in England for making paper by hand. 



Common foolscap is the largest size that can be made at present, 

 and the rate at which such paper could be supplied would probably 

 be less than the rate at which similar paper is usually procurable by 

 Government. 



3. A small Factory has been set up near BaduUa, and the work 

 carried on by a friend of mine who lives on the spot ; and if the 

 present rough paper is adapted for any public purposes, arrangements 

 could he made to meet the demand. And with the aid of Govern- 

 ment in the shape of a regular demand for such description of paper, 

 1 should hope to be able to produce paper of a superior quality by 

 means of better machinery. 



4. It may perhaps be considered premature to bring forward this 

 matter at its present stage to the notice of Government, but as I 

 have already laid out a considerable sum of money in experiments, 

 asid it not being in my power to continue them, I now respectfully 



* Davy, pj>, 



