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JOURNAL) B.A.S, ( CEYLON). [Vol. IX. 



per ton) be utilized, so as rapidly to solve the problems of 

 cheapening steam navigation and covering the surface of the 

 island with iron highways. Much of our plumbago, now so 

 largely exported to the Far West, might then be retained 

 and used in the shape of crucibles for the manufacture of 

 Ceylon steel, with more profit than the Sinhalese usually 

 derive from their native iron, on the production of two 

 shillings' worth of which, according to the Swiss geologist 

 abovementioned, the natives spend nine shillings' worth of 

 fuel and labour. 



But nothing in my researches with regard to this paper 

 has been to me so great a shock and disappointment as the 

 apparent impossibility of verifying the existence in Ceylon of 

 the valuable mineral — it would be doubly valuable now that 

 planters will largely need just such a fuel as it would yield 

 for preparing their tea — which, between 1847 and 1849, Dr. 

 Gygax professed, with such a flourish of trumpets, to have 

 discovered. He stated that it existed where stone or glance 

 coal might be expected to occur (had "bituminous" coal ever 

 been present), in juxtaposition with basaltic rock, and in such 

 abundance that he estimated it could be delivered in Colombo 

 at the very low price I have named, of 18s. per ton ! 



Specimens of anthracite which Dr. Gygax alleged he had 

 collected in Ceylon were, with other minerals, deposited in 

 the Museum of this Society, and in his report to the govern- 

 ment of Lord TorriDgton, dated 30th June, 1848, Dr. Gygax 

 remarked, speaking of the vast quantity of excellent iron and 

 of its being easily smelted, a But anthracite being easily found 

 on the spot, could be used in the proportion of three to one 

 of English coal and much cost saved." Again, in the same 

 report there is a distinct heading for the coal he alleged he 

 had discovered, and he wrote : — " Anthracite may be found 

 in precisely similar situations with plumbago. Indeed, 

 whilst the latter is the metallic carbon, the former is a 

 hydrate of carbon. Just as plumbago is found near the 

 basaltic eruptions, so is anthracite found. It is my opinion 

 that this substance exists as abundantly as does plumbago. 

 I recommend exploring the country for it near the Bentota 

 river, half way between Galle and Colombo, and I believe it 

 might be produced for 18s. the ton." Writing, too, of the 

 kaolin (kirimetiya of the Sinhalese), so plentiful in Ceylon, as 



