422 



JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. III. 



Assistant Govt. Agent's Office, 



Badulla, Z\st January, 1857. 



Sir,— I have the honor to enclose specimens of paper manufactured 

 by Mr. Medical Sub- Assistant Ohdaatje. 



2. His very praiseworthy exertions have been unceasing during the 

 last three years. Considering that he has worked alone and against 

 many disadvantages, there can be no doubt that his success has been 

 very great. He has expended a large sum of money, near £200, in 

 testing his experiments, and is on the point of giving up any fur- 

 ther prosecution of them, in consequence of the want of machinery 

 for reducing the fibre into fine pulp, the present manual labour for 

 that purpose so greatly increasing the cost of the material as to preclude 

 its competing, as an article of commerce, with other inferior fibres. 



3. Though he is obliged for the present to abandon all thoughts 

 of exporting the fibre to England, he is able to manufacture the 

 paper, of which I enclose you specimens, in some quantity, and at 

 very reasonable rates. 



4. The headmen in all districts are now leqaired to send returns, 



&c.j which it is impossible they can do on olas ; yet no paper is 



allowed them, and they are obliged to purchase it at their own cost. 



Paper No. l and 2, 5. The paper marked No. 1 and 2 can be <*up- 

 2 i reams a month. 1 

 Blotting paper, 30 pued by Mr. Ondaatje, m the quantities and at the 



^f ( f m 1 s p ll B m (1 < r I1 - th " prices mentioned in the margin, much cheaper rates 



In Colombo 6s. ed than lumberhand, (than which it is scarcely inferior 



Pe inKandy fs. 6d. per i n texture and to which it is superior in toughness,) 



^ilf'Baaulla 5s per is farniishpd to Government ; which I believe is 7s. 



ream. Q C L per ream. He could also manufacture paper of 



No. 2 paper : L 1 



In Colombo 5s. per demy size, 

 ream. 



In Kandy 4s. 6d per 

 re»m. 



In Badul'a 4a. per 

 ream, 



-6. There can be no question, I think, that it is not right to call 

 on headmen to make returns which require paper, and not to supply 

 them with paper for the purpose. I have the honor to suggest, 

 therefore, that you should, if you concur with me in my views on this 

 subject, recommend to Government that Mr. Ondaatje be employed to 

 supply paper for this purpose ; for superseding the use of olas in the 

 Kachcheries generally, and for any other use to which his paper can 

 be put. Either description of paper would answer excellently for 

 forms, vouchers, returns of births, deaths, population lists, and 

 division officers' books ; and the blotting paper (of which I enclose 



