38 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIX. 



the site of the present Pettah Burial Ground), and altogether for 

 its quaint look. Had there been time this map ought to have been 

 engraved for the forthcoming Paper on the Portuguese in Ceylon. 

 The Honorary Secretary, Mr. Joseph, exhibits from his office 

 an old Portuguese sketch (doubtless enlarged) of the Colombo 

 Inner Harbour, Customs House, and other buildings, which may 

 have been taken from the more detailed map or perhaps a little 

 later. 



From Mr. D. W. Ferguson I have got the loan, on purpose to 

 exhibit here, of the only copy he has heard of being available, of 

 the illustrated map, prepared by Mr. Charles Wynne Payne, to 

 accompany a book on " Ceylon, its Products, and its Capabilities, 

 &c," published in 1854 inEngland. The illustrations show types 

 of different sections of the Sinhalese, Tamil, and Moormen, with 

 some attractive views of scenery, of the elephant, coffee in fruit 

 and flower, &c. This map, published fifty years ago, is specially 

 interesting because of the author having, at so early a date, 

 boldly drawn the lines of railway which he thought ought to be con- 

 structed in order duly to develop the Island. Beginning at Galle 

 he ran a coast line, not only to Colombo, but on to Puttalam and 

 Mannar and over the Mannar Island facing Adam's Bridge, ready 

 for the connection with India. Then, this coast line was continued 

 to Jaffna ; and was then led diagonally across country to Trinco- 

 malee. Thence, the line connected across country with Kandy 

 and ran on to Colombo. Another line from Kandy ran direct to 

 Batticaloa, ignoring intervening mountain ranges ! It will be 

 observed that Mr. Payne never anticipated the necessity which 

 has carried our railway system up to 6,200 feet and down into the 

 heart of the Uva Principality — the most wonderful mountain 

 railway of 160 miles from Colombo to Bandarawela, in some 

 respects, that can be found on the surface of the globe. 



8. The Hon. Mr. John Ferguson, C.M.G., President, then read 

 the following Paper. 



