No. 31.— 1885.] 



PLUMBAGO. 



177 



association with plumbago, but in juxtaposition with basaltic 

 rocks, the friction and heat of which when irrupted would, 

 as all acquainted with the principles of geology know, have 

 supplied just the needed agency to convert ordinary gaseous 

 coal into anthracite by the expulsion of the volatile portions. 

 My limited knowledge of the mysteries of geology forbids 

 me to dogmatize, but I have observed, read, and inquired to 

 some extent, and until better advised I must confess to utter 

 scepticism regarding the existence of anthracite in the 

 formations at Nambapana, or anywhere amongst the granitic 

 formations of Sabaragamuwa, or as at all existing in Ceylon. 



The strange part of the matter is that Tennent, with his 

 special opportunities of testing the reality of a discovery 

 which he evidently deemed immensely important, never did 

 more than take Dr. Gygax's statements for granted giving 

 them the benefit of amplification and word-painting in his 

 book, a book in regard to most subjects, as correct in state- 

 mentas it is elegant in style. That Dr. Gygax was not 

 infallible, we have had proof in the case of an assertion he 

 made in a paper contributed to the earlier annals of this 

 Society. He stated that the little land leech, which is such a 

 pest in the damp forests of Ceylon and Southern India, cannot 

 exist on volcanic soil. But travellers in Java and other por- 

 tions of the Eastern Archipelago have told, from painful 

 experience, a very different tale. 



It is not, however, scientific accuracy, but personal veracity 

 which seems at stake in the statement that anthracite not 

 only exists but abounds in Ceylon ; and to set this and other 

 like questions at rest, I submit that this Society would do well 

 to use its influence with Government to induce themtoborrow 

 an officer, if his services could be spared, from the Geological 

 Survey staff of the Government of India, to examine and 

 report, once for all and with authority, on the geology and 

 mineralogy of our island. Such a man as Dr. Wm. King, with 

 his experience acquired in India, could pronounce on all im- 

 portant points in a period of time probably not extending 

 beyond a year. Dr. King has visited the island more than 

 once, I believe, and is interested in its' physical constitution 

 and condition generally, while he is personally connected 

 with Ceylon from the fact that he has a brother in our Civil 

 Service. In regard to a discussion in the Observer regarding 



