264 



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



is explained as "blue mountain-chalk with which one can write 

 and draw," the French being given as " crayon bleu, crayon de 

 Hollande" which looks as if the Dutch were the first to use it for 

 pencils, &c. The word pot-loot was also used for pencil simply, as 

 " Leen my uw pot- loot" [' Lend me your pencil']. 



Appendix Sffo, 17. 



Plumbago in the Kolonnd Korale. 

 Mr. Charles Shand states : — 



" The plumbago found at the Vegiriya village, Kolonna Korale, 

 below the Kolonnii estates, is considered to be the finest flaky 

 (micaceous) plumbago found in the Island, being peculiarly soft 

 and dark in colour, and realizes the highest price in the London 

 market. This deposit has only been largely worked within the 

 last three or four j^ears, and there are several promising spots in 

 the neighbourhood, but the present low price and heavy transport 

 interfere with development." 



Specimens sent by Mr. Shand bear out his description of the 

 fine quality of the mineral. It is, however, not micaceous, only 

 mica-like in its laminated structure. 



.appendix No. IS. 



Return of Plumbago conveyed by Rail to Colombo. 



Station from 



1882. 



1883. 



1884. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Kalutara South 





7 



16 



Veyangoda 



346 



223 





Mirigama 



322 



258 



18 



Ambepussa 



7 



26 





folgahawela 



4801 



4664 



3349 



Rambukkana 



32 



78 



74 



Kandy 



112 



18 



35 



Katugastota 



14 



43 



61 



Wattegama 



8 



72 





Matale 









Nawalapitiya 





15 



10 



Total ... 



5642 



5404 



3563 



The above table I owe to the courtesy of Mr. Pearce, who 

 explained that no separate accounts of plumbago as an item of 

 traffic were kept before 1882. The figures given show that the 



