348 



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



[Vol. X. 



(Bennet) is particularly strong in regard to indigo, cotton, 

 opium, pepper, and tea. The two first mentioned grow wild, 

 and he says there are 4,000 square miles on which cotton 

 might be grown. As regards tea, which he also describes as 

 indigenous, he may have only followed Percival, who wrote 

 about twenty years previously, and says that " the tea plant 

 is found in the greatest abundance in the northern parts of 

 the Island, which are most unfavourable to other kinds of 

 produce " ! He says further " that it is equal in quality to 

 any that ever grew in China." 



Another enthusiast of more recent date, C. W. Payne, has 

 published, besides his book on " Ceylon, its Products, Capa- 

 bilities, and Climate," a map of large size, and of very re- 

 markable character. At page 11 of his book he says that 

 Ceylon " will be found to be far more productive in mineral 

 wealth than any other country." He estimates " that the 

 exportation of cotton from hence would give freight to 500,000 

 tons of shipping annually, and would annihilate the slave 

 cotton supply from America." Of tobacco he says " an acre 

 produces one and a half to two tons." Wine of superior 

 quality, and that to a great extent, could be made here ; 

 indeed " it would be difficult," he says, " to find a climate or 

 soil better adapted for the cultivation and growth of the 

 grape than some parts of the low country." In his rambles 

 he " gazed around him with astonishment to see the herds of 

 wild cattle grazing upon the beautiful green pasture, 

 resembling our home parks, but far more luxuriant, Count- 

 less herds of wild cattle wander through the forest, and over 

 the valleys ; they have also their camping grounds, park-like 

 places, shaded with trees. Every herd has several of these 

 camps. So strong is their attachment to place that they have 

 been known to travel back 100 and even 200 miles to their 

 old haunts." "Here," he says, " is a wide field for the slaughter 

 house ; beef and venison in abundance." " I have myself 

 seen," he goes on to say, " herds numbering two to three 

 thousand heads without owner or master. Why, the very 

 hides of these animals would make a fine export trade, while 



