NO. 51. — 1900.] PEARL FISHERIES. 



195 



his presence this evening, as in that part of our proceedings in which 

 we try to lay or develop that scientific basis, upon which alone 

 can be soundly erected any structure of utility in any work, 

 especially of production of any kind. And His Excellency has shown 

 us, by the interest that he has taken and the efforts he has made 

 for promoting the scientific side of agriculture, and providing a 

 scientific staff for placing upon the most sound basis the great indus- 

 tries and productions of the Island, that His Excellency recognizes 

 what a Society like this tries to teach — what it was trying this evening 

 and on all similar occasions to teach — to the people of Ceylon, i.e., that 

 only upon a thorough scientific study of the facts and the natural 

 laws, that commerce and production and works of usefulness can be 

 well conducted. (Applause.) We are very glad that His Excellency 

 is amongst us on such an occasion, and that we should have such 

 support. There are many times when our Papers deal with matters, 

 the utilitarian tendency of which cannot easily be discovered. The 

 Society exists in a great measure in order to keep before the minds of 

 men that knowledge is valuable for its own sake. There are also 

 times when the bearing of knowledge, scientific knowledge in 

 particular, upon the practical needs of men and Governments come 

 within our purview, and on such occasions we are extremely thankful 

 to have the presence of our Governor. (Applause.) 



Mr. S. M. Burrows said that, while he felt a strong sense of his 

 unworthiness for the task, he congratulated himself on the honour 

 done to him that night in his being asked to second the vote of thanks 

 to His Excellency the Governor for being present that evening. He 

 said that His Lordship and he had often met on various boards that 

 arranged, no doubt adequately, for the instruction of others. It was 

 strange that they should thus meet on an occasion when arrangements 

 had been made, no doubt equally adequately, for the instruction of 

 themselves. He came to the meeting that evening knowing about as 

 much of the pearl oyster as he did of Chinese, and he went away 

 feeling he could pass a very fair examination on the many scientific 

 aspects of its study — from the highly technical terms so glibly men- 

 tioned by Mr. Collett to the case of the "oyster crossed in love" so 

 unexpectedly brought in by a later speaker, Mr. John Ferguson. 

 He begged to second a very hearty vote of thanks to His Excellency 

 for presiding, a distinction which had heightened the interest of the 

 gathering that night. 



His Excellency, in returning thanks, said : — I am extremely 

 obliged to you — to you, my Lord, for the gracious terms in which you 

 have proposed ; to you, Mr. Burrows, for the kindly terms in which 

 you have seconded ; and to you, ladies and gentlemen, for the cordial 

 manner in which you have passed this vote of thanks, which is in no 

 way merited by me. It is great pleasure to me to be present at the 

 Meetings of this Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, and I only wish 



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