182 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Ceylon. 



Coins. — Their money is of silver wire, and called Larins ; the value 

 about a quarter of a rupee each. All other monies pass current by weight, 

 and every man keeps weights for the purpose ; so that they are frequently 

 obliged to cut dollars, rupees, &:c. into pieces, to pay for any commodity. 



SECTION XVII. 

 CEYLON. 



This island is separated from the Peninsula of India by the Gulph of 

 Manar, formed between it and the Tinneveliy coast ; the gulph is bounded to 

 the N. E. by a narrow ridge of sand and rocks, mostly dry, which is called 

 Adam's Bridge. It extends nearly E. and W. 8 or 10 leagues; the E. end 

 joining to the Island Manar, which lies close to Ceylon, in latitude about 

 9°N. ; and the W. end to the Island of Ramisscram, which is situated close 

 to the continent. There is a narrow passage for small country trading boats, 

 drawing about three feet water, between the island and the main. The 

 general direction of the island is N. and S. Its length, from Dondra Head 

 to Point Pedro, is about 250 miles, and its greatest hreadth about 1 .50. 



Since the year 1818, this island has been entirely subjected to British 

 authority, and is governed by a liberal constitution. 



The trading places are Aripo, Calpenteen, Negombo, Columbo, Matura, 

 Point de Galle, Batticaloe, Trincomalee, and JafFnapatam. Of these, Co- 

 lumbo, Point de Galle, and Trincomalee are the only ports frequented by 

 large ships. 



ARIPO is about four leagues to the S. of the E. end of Manar, and 

 about two miles N. of the scene of the pearl fishery, in latitude about 8° 47' N. 

 About 500 yards to the N. of the fort lies a small village chiefly inhabited 

 by fishermen, and adorned with a neat Portuguese chapel rising from its 

 centre. The beach is steep, and the large donies lie so close to the shore, 

 that a person might step into thorn ; at the same time they ride in perfect 

 security. The gulph being narrow, no surf is perceptible. The pearl fishery 

 is carried on at 



C'ONDATCHY, about three miles distant from Aripo, where in gene- 

 ral nothing is to be seen hut a few miserable huts, and a sandy desert ; but 



