General Meeting, Feb. 1st, 1854, 



IxxxviL 



of a greenish yellow colour, very bitter taste, devoid of acid or alkaline 

 properties, little soluble in water, but freely in alcohol, especially when 

 heated. Nitric Acid gives it a red colour." 



6. A remarkably fine specimen of Sulphur ore, almost 

 equal to Sicilian, obtained from Terrepha in Walapany : it 

 is studded and permeated with crystals of pure Sulphur. 



" The mode of extracting the sulphur is, I think, understood by the 

 Kandians, as I hear it was one of the Rajakarias or compulsory labours 

 performed by the Kandians. I will take another opportunity of describing 

 the Kandian process of obtaining Sulphur. I suppose it is by sublimation." 



7. Iron Alum, in small lumps weighing about two drachms 

 and less, having the characteristic satin-like minute crystals, 

 and almost pure. 



" I found the Alum at a place called Bolcadde near Badulla, on a lofty 

 Gneiss rock which is shooting up from the centre of an extensive valley, 

 the soil of which is clayey. The rock is about 300 feet above the level of 

 the ground, and in a state of disintegration. A large surface of the rock 

 presents a stratified appearance, and from the fissures I collected the Iron 

 Alum, which occurs as an efiioresence on it. The people living near 

 this rock say that it was struck by lightning, and since that time the 

 Alum has appeared on it." 



On dissolving the native crystal, in water, filtering and 

 recrystallizing it, a pure white Iron Alum was procured, 

 having the same character of crystallization as the former, but 

 very deliquiscent ; its constituents are Sulphate of Iron and 

 Sulphate of Alum. 



List of Minerals presented to the Asiatic Society. 



a. The Malabars call this mineral Gerbasoodamane, and it is 

 rubbed with lime juice and applied to the umbilicus to act 

 as a parturifacient ; it is also given internally. Found in 

 Mahatellilla oya near Dickkapitteagama 8 



This mineral resembles a gum resin more than a mineral. It is of a 

 yellowish green colour, and not very brittle ; its edges are somewhat 

 translucent, and the surfaces of fracture are smooth and shining. It is 

 not soluble in water, and but slightly acted upon by sulphuric acid. 

 Calcination reduces it to a reddish burnt clay like substance, and it appears 

 to be a composition of Alumina Silica and Oxyde of Iron. 

 vol. ii. . m 



