48 journal r. a. s. (ceylok). [Vol. II., Part IL 



south of Puttalam, and also in other parts of the District ; the 

 bark used to be collected during the existence of the Govern- 

 ment monopoly, and the villagers still gather small quantities 

 of it. 



The Bread fruit (Artocarpus incisa, Linn ) and Jack (Arto- 

 carpus integrifolia, Lino.) are much cultivated towards the 

 south ; the former grows well at Kalpitiya. 



The Sapan wood (Ccesalpina Sappan, Linn. — Sin. patangi, 

 a&<&) grows in the District, but I am not aware that it is 

 collected for sale. 



In some parts of the District Hemp (Ceylon — -Sin. hana, 

 Crotalaria juncea, Linn.) is raised in considerable 

 quantities ; but the absence of pure running streams is a great 

 obstacle in the way of the cultivator ; it is chiefly employed 

 by fishermen. 



Formerly, when the collection of cheya (Oldenlandia 

 umbellata, Linn.,— Sin. say an muld) was a Government mono- 

 poly, large quantities used to be obtained from the sandy 

 downs which gird the coast ; that growing in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Kalpitiya was considered to be of the best 

 quality. A peculiar caste of people employ themselves to a 

 considerable extent in digging up and drying the root, which 

 yields a very brilliant, and I believe permanent red dye. 

 About ten or fifteen tons of this article are exported annually 

 to the Continent of India. 



It may be proper to mention that at Kalpitiya considerable 

 quantities of a kind of seaweed are dried and sent to different 

 parts of the Island, where it is usually termed Jaffna moss. 

 Gracillaria lichenoides, Grev. 



The process of preparation consists simply in washing it in 

 fresh water and drying it several times in succession ; when 

 boiled and allowed to cool, it forms a transparent, nearly taste- 

 less, but, I am told, nourishing jelly. The preparation of the 

 plant was first commenced in 1806, at which time the usual 



