170 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X. 



20 Tonies = 'dugouts' (' dhonies'). See Hobson-Jobson, s. v. ' Doney r 

 Dhony.' 



21 Cotton = Kotte (Cotta). 



22 Eibeiro gives the following account of the extraction of this 

 oil : — " In the Island is also made oil, and wax of cinnamon, but 

 though many people might find employment in this work, which is of 

 much estimation and value throughout the whole world, I knew only 

 three families who engaged in it. Taking the bruised fruit of the 

 cinnamon, they placed it in caldrons with sufficient water, applying a 

 strong fire for the space of three hours, when they removed it from 

 the heat ; and when it was quite cold they took from the surface a 

 cake like very white tallow, and on the surface of the water were 

 formed ' eyes ' as of oil, which were removed with a feather, and 

 dropping them into a bottle, set in sand and exposed to the sun, where 

 the moisture was expelled , and when it was purified they placed it in a 

 large bottle, and in a short time acquired a quantity that sold for a 

 high price. This is the oil so highly prized throughout the whole 

 world, of service in many infirmities. The tallow which they got 

 they called wax, and sent it to India : it is also medicinal for various 

 infirmities . Of it they made tapers, two or four of which were placed on 

 the thrones at festivals, and exhaled such odoriferous smell, that the 

 church appeared to be the facsimile of heaven. None of us distilled the 

 water, not knowing how to manage it, for we were all remiss ; the 

 Hollanders did not lose this opportunity, but were able to extract large 

 quantities easily, for the cinnamon is at hand, with all its sap and 

 spirits, taken from the tree ; it is highly prized now in Europe, 

 whither much is sent, the result being a large profit." (Bk. I., 

 chap. XXI.) See also Valentijn, Ceylon, p. 51. 



23 Le Grand says (Lee's Ribeyro, p. 48) : — " During the last 

 century there also fell into decadence the famous town of Cotta. 

 which had been for many years the capital of the emperor of that 

 name. The town was in the middle of a lake : a causeway, very long 

 and narrow, led to it. Colombo was built of its ruins." 



24 Ole = 61a. — Hobson-Jobson says (s. v. ' Ollah' ) : — '• In older books 

 the term ola generally means a native letter." 



25 Orivevel = Gurub6wila : in Ribeiro's map called ' Grubebe ' ; in 

 de l'lsle's map in Le Grand's Ribeyro ' Grouably ' ; in Yalentijn ' Gour- 

 bevile,' Goerbevele,' and ' Goerbeville' ; in Herport ' HorrenwebeL' 



26 •King's apples.' According to Lee (Ribeyro, p. 68 n.), 'the 

 large mandarin orange,' Of this fruit Ribeiro says : — " Above all 

 [fruits] that the Island possesses, is the King's orange, and it seems 

 to me that if there was the earthly Paradise, with these alone could 

 our first father have been tempted ; for in all the world there cannot 

 be a more excellent apple." 



27 I need hardly say that neither of these statements has the 

 slightest foundation in fact. 



