Dec. 1906.] 



499 



Miscellaneous. 



more closely followed than has been the ease hitherto. It is, in fact, desirable that 

 Government should take immediate steps, either directly or through the Agricul- 

 tural Society, to support the indigenous arts and crafts and to save them from 

 extinction or degeneration. 



And now let us speak shortly of the decorative arts. The capacity for good 

 decorative work which still survives in Ceylon is very remarkable ; there are minor 

 arts which the Colony can ill afford to lose, and which will stand its people in good 

 stead if ever industries such as silk- weaving are introduced. It is in fact the case that 

 a determined man with sufficient capital at his disposal could, with the aid of such 

 workmen as are available, and of others trained in the same way, establish or 

 re-establish the sumptuary industries of India here and secure a world-wide market 

 for the w T ork. If there existed amongst the ordinary workmen in England men with 

 the capacity for designing which is found in 'the Ceylon craftsmen, the value of 

 those men to English manufactures would be incalculable. It therefore appears 

 that the Government would be fully justified in spending a moderate sum of money 

 annually in support of the indigenous arts and crafts. What is wanted is a certain 

 amount of capital which can be expended, without a necessity for an immediate 

 return, in securing the execution of more elaborate and more expensive work than a 

 small association such as the Kandy Art Association can afford to keep on sale. The 

 things so made must be accessible to the buying public ; I am thinking of elaborate 

 painted boxes with metal fittings, requiring the co-operation of carpenters, painters 

 and founders ; illuminated mauuscripts ; carved ivory and woodwork of a more 

 substantial and useful character than any now made ; but not so much of ordinary 

 hammered silver and brass work. The buying public ought of course to consist of 

 the people of the country ; but, failing that, it would be necessary to rely upon the 

 European residents and the passenger trade to a considerable extent. It is true that 

 the passenger is rarely a judge of good or bad work ; but it would be the concern of 

 those connected with the undertaking to see that none but good work was to be had* 

 and that it was sold at reasonable fixed prices. The work of the Kandy Art Asso 

 ciation in this direction is of course excellent, but it is insufficient. The tact that 

 passenger shops in Colombo keep on sale goods valued at as much as £100 shows that 

 buyers of really expensive and good work are not altogether wanting. 



Perhaps the most important (and also most expensive) part of any compre 

 hensive scheme would be the selection of a more or less permanent officer, of 

 necessity a cultured and sympathetic man, to organize the production of work for 

 the depot. The whole success of the scheme would hang upon the selection of the 

 right man. 



Another important thing" in connection with any such efforts as that 

 proposed is the selection only of the best workmen. There are many moderately 

 good and some very good, and it is the latter who should be specially supported. 

 One good man is worth a dozen moderate ones- 



It would be necessary to have the work on sale in a convenient part of 

 Colombo ; either a special shop could be arranged for, or an already existing firm 

 might at first be allowed to sell the work on commission at fixed prices. Something 

 like the ' Peasant Art Society's' shop in Loudon is suggested. A good many rich and 

 appreciative passengers do pass through Colombo every year, but are often deterred 

 from spending money there on account of the impossibility of obtaining any really 

 distinctive Ceylon work except of a trivial character, and by fear of being imposed 

 upon. I have no doubt that, as soon as their confidence was secured, and it became 

 known that good work, guaranteed as such, and not too cheap, was available, suffi- 

 cient purchases would be made to support the undertaking. Another point is that 

 there are many useful articles made or capable of being made in Ceylon outside the 

 Kandy district, and these the public have at present no opportunity of obtaiuing. 



