Ceylon. ] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



185 



and the same number intersect them at right angles. The pettah is of a 

 square form, anil was formerly defended on the land side by a wall. The 

 N. side is bounded by the sea, the S.%y the lake, and the W. by the eastern 

 esplanade. On this side, within the limits of the pettah, stands the burial 

 ground of the settlement 



Beyond the pettah many straggling streets extend in various directions 

 several miles into the country. The fort is chiefly occupied by the English 

 inhabitants ; the pettah by Dutch and Portuguese ; and the suburbs, which 

 arc by far the most populous, by native Cingalese. 



For some years after its capture, Ceylon was under the controul of the 

 Exist India Company ; but from the beginning of 1802, it became entirely 

 a royal Government, and was placed under the immediate direction of his 

 Majesty^ Ministers- The Council is composed of the Governor, the Chief 

 Justice, the Commander of the Forces, who is also Lieutenant Governor, and 

 the Secretary to Government. A supreme court of judicature ia established, 

 consisting of a Chief Justice and a Puisne Judge ; annexed to it are his 

 Majesty's Advocate, Fiscal, Registrar, Sheriff, and other officers. The 

 Chief Justice takes precedence of ail His Majesty's subjects on the island, ex- 

 cepting the Governor; the Commander of the Forces ranks next, and after 

 him the Puisne Justice. 



Tiiade. — The commercial capacity of Ceylon is very considerable ; and 

 in the course of time, when the wants of the inhabitants shall have increased 

 through their advancement in the arts of civilization, the demands upon the 

 mother country will be considerable. At present, the natives are chielly in 

 want of grain, cloth, and a few articles of simple luxury, which are most 

 conveniently supplied from the neighbouring coast of India. The produc- 

 tions of the soil in Ceylon might be almost infinite. Its staple export is 

 cinnamon ; the next article is arrack, which, with coco-nut oil and other 

 products of the same tree, might be fun *shed to a very considerable extent 

 from the numerous coco-nut gardens in the island. The number of those 

 trees between Calpenteen and Dondra Head has been reckoned at 

 10,000,000. The other articles are areca-nuts, cofTec, pepper, cotton, 

 tobacco, timber and ornamental woods, precious stones, ivory, and various 

 drugs and dye-stuffs. Most of these articles are of suj>erior quality. The 

 cardamums are less valued than those of Malabar. The hemp is neglected, 

 though of excellent quality. 



Duties. — The import and export duties throughout the island were 

 consolidated in 1810 as follows i — 



On Imports. — Cloth, 7 $ per cent, ad valorem ; grain of all sorts, 1 ditto ; 

 British, China, and India goods, 5 ditto; all other goods, 6 ditto; cattle. 



