3 £2 



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



[Vol. XXI. 



Mat-weaving is the chief industry of the women and old 

 men. For a mat they get two measures of paddy, or 12 cents. 

 These mats fetch about 15 cents each at Jaffna. 



There is no pottery made, and the small quantity which is 

 imported is taken great care of. A Delft man will spend three 

 or four measures of grain in stopping a hole in a pot or chatty. 

 " Holes in pots and pans are closed with two iron plates fixed 

 together by a leaden nail rivetted on both sides. The Maniyagar 

 bought a pot so mended for 25 cents, twice its ordinary 

 price." (Administration Report, Northern Province, 1905.) 



Land Tenure. — The system in Delft is peculiar and different 

 from that prevaihng anywhere else in Ceylon. The island is 

 the property of the Crown, and the people are tenants of the 

 Crown; but the term of occupation is of indefinite duration, 

 and no rent has ever been imposed or recovered, except for 

 dry grain cultivation on the plains. Notwithstanding the 

 fact that the inhabitants who occupy lands are merely 

 tenants-at-will, they have during British times at least been 

 accustomed to make and receive transfers of these lands and to 

 give dowries of them by notarial deed, as if the dominion was 

 vested in themselves and not in the Crown. Up to the present 

 year in Delft no lands had ever been sold by the Crown by 

 public auction. In 1905 I recommended that some lands be 

 put up for sale, and I am glad to see that this course has now 

 been taken, and some. acres were put up for sale this year (1908) 

 — the first sale of Crown land in Delft by public auction. 



Climate. — Though the island is on the whole healthy, 

 there is a good deal of fever at the beginning of the year, and 

 the infant mortality is great. The death-rate was about 28 

 per mille in 1905, but out of every 100 deaths 67 were those of 

 children. The people live in small huts , which in wet weather 

 have damp floors, and exposure to cold winds and rain after 

 excessive heat probably accounts for much of the mortality. 

 The establishment of a small hospital has been recommended , 

 and one is, I -believe, likely soon to be provided. 



Food Supply and Cultivation. — Their chief food is palmyra 

 produce and dry grain. A small quantity of paddy is culti- 

 vated in Delft West, and of recent years paddy has been 

 grown in Delft East and Delft Centre as well. It is generally 



