Chap. I.] 
OXEN". 
53 
the interior, carrying light loads as pack-oxen in what 
is called a "tavalam" — a term which, substituting bul- 
locks for camels, is equivalent to a " caravan." 1 The 
class of persons engaged in this traffic in Ceylon resem- 
ble in their occupations the "Banjarees" of Hindustan, 
who bring down to the coast corn, cotton, and oil, and 
take back to the interior cloths and iron and copper 
utensils. In the unopened parts of the island, and 
especially in the eastern provinces, this primitive prac- 
tice still continues. When travelling in these districts 
I have often encountered long files of pack-bullocks 
toiling along the mountain paths, their bells tinkling 
musically as they moved ; or halting during the noonday 
heat beside some stream in the forests, their burdens 
piled in heaps near the drivers, who had lighted their 
cooking fires, whilst the bullocks were permitted to 
bathe and browse. 
The persons engaged in this wandering trade are 
chiefly Moors, and the business carried on by them 
consists in bringing up salt from the government depots 
on the coast to be bartered with the Kandyans in the 
hills for " native coffee," which is grown in small quan- 
tities round every house, but without systematic culti- 
vation. This they carry down to the maritime towns, 
and the proceeds are invested in cotton cloths and brass 
utensils, dried fish, and other commodities, with which 
the tavalams supply the secluded villages of the in- 
terior. 
1 Attempts Lave been made to 
domesticate the camel in Ceylon ; 
but, I am told, they died of ulcers 
in the feet, attributed to the too 
great moisture of the roads at 
certain seasons. This explanation 
seems insufficient if taken in con- 
nection with the fact of the camel 
living in perfect health in climates 
equally, if not more, exposed to 
rain. I apprehend that sufficient 
justice has not been done to the 
experiment. 
E 3 
