576 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST* [February i, 1890. 
THE PROPOSED NEW TAX ON GEMMING. 
Colombo, Feb. 4th. 
Dear Sir, — It has long been known that the 
present Government is antagonistic to European 
enterprise and to the introduction of European 
capital h.to the island to develop its resources 
and increase its wealth. 
As an illustration of this I have only to point 
to the hot haste with which it has cancelled the 
moderate and reasonable mining and gemming 
regulations of the 16th December 1881, under the 
protection of which capitalists have been induced 
to subscribe large sums, and to enter into exten- 
sive contracts 10 bring to light the hidden riches 
of the island, and to the publication of an or- 
dinance in substitution of the cancelled regulations 
which, if it became law, would put an immedi- 
ate stop to the search for precious minerals in 
private lands, »hioii is now being commenced for 
the first time by Europeans in a serious manner. 
From time immemorial the natives of the islaud, 
as is known all the world over, has been success- 
ful searchers .for precious stones, not only in 
private but in Government land without let or 
hindrance. The Goveri ment has over and over 
again admitted its inability to stop their lawless- 
ness, and they wM continue in the future, as in 
the past, to circumvent all efforts to interfere with 
their favorite and exciting pur.-uit. 
The idea of obtaining a share of the gross value 
of native pickings, could only have emanated 
from the brain of the latest Civil Service cadet. 
As it is the idea is simp'y ndiculous- 
Though the contemp.ated biow is intended to be 
struck at natives as well as Europeans, it will 
fall comparatively harmless on the former. The 
Go'\ eminent Agents with all their assistants could 
sea cely watch the output of every pit sunk by 
native ; hut it might just be posei >le if the "illan" 
raited by Europeans was only allowed to ba washed 
periodically, for an official to be present at each 
washing to clutch the proposed Government share 
before it is made away with. 
■\\hei the Governm nt sold its land, it undoubt- 
edly r served its right to the precious minerals in 
the SjiI, but as it could neither raise them itself, 
nor grant the right to anyone else to do so The 
Viiui of the hidiien wealth to Government is in- 
significant. Insignificant as it may be it should 
undoubtedly be paid for, by those who wish to 
acquire them ; but the price should he commen- 
surate with their value in situ. 
A tiiflmg royalty as provi ed by the cancelled 
regulati .ns, anil the direct increase to the revenue 
from the stamps on transfers and leases, would 
amply compensate Gi ernmentfor the surrender of 
its rights. But that the Government does not in-. 
tend to be satisfied with the terms claimed by the 
Government of all civilized countries unfortunately 
admits of no doubt. Under the provisions of the 
Ordinance now published a heavy and probably an 
overwhelming tax is to be laid on all gemming. 
How much .t is to be or in what form it is to.be levied, 
it is impossible to guess from the Ordinance as pub- 
lished. If it is to be 10 per cent of the gross value 
of the precious minerais, it will probably swallow 
up the whole of thj profits. Whatever may be the 
returns to the shareholders who provide the capital 
to tiring the " illan'' tu the surface, the Government 
will at auy rate realize the handsome income of 10 
per cent on the value of the gems without outlay 
or risk. 
As however this form of levying the tax will be 
found to be impracticable, and easily evaded ; tha 
al ernative method of an annual rent on the laud 
will hava to be adopted; and if we may judge what 
this will be by the other proposal, it will be a swamp- 
ing one Whatever it may be it is to be left to 
the discretion of the Government Agent, who is not 
only to be omnipotent as regards the tax, but also 
in dictating the terms on which licenses are to be 
granted to search for precuus stone? on private 
lands for the purchase of which high prices may 
have been paid. 
It is true that as regards the discretion to with- 
hold licenses there i3 an appeal to the Governor in 
Council, but that everyone knows is simply an 
appeal to the Government Agent himself, as it is 
the inv triable practice of the Governor to confirm 
the decision of subordinate officials, it being a 
rule of the service that an official cannot do wrong. 
Judging from the punitive and inquisitorial provi- 
sions of the Ord-nance it has evidently been drawn 
up by the hand which framed the Gaming Ordin- 
ance when it was first published. 
Your space will not admit of my putting forward 
all the objections whioh could be urged against the 
Ordinance, but I hope the unofficial members of 
the Legislative Council both native and European 
will raise their voices against the imposition of a 
tax which may swamp an industry which is the 
most hazardous that exists, and scrutinize provisions 
which place such enormous power in the hands of 
irresponsible officials.— I am, dear sir, yours trulv, 
C. S. 
P. S.—lt is probable that prescription will bar 
Government rights to precious minerals in many 
private lands. 
The Ceylon Tea Plantations Company, Ltd., in the 
K 'TALgaloya Valley. — Our largest Tea Company has 
just "stretched itself" by the addition of no less than 
four estates in Dimbula — ' 'ameron's Land, Lochiel, and 
Rosita in the Kotagaloya Valley, and Tangakelly. The 
first three nave been purchased from Mr Hill, of Har- 
rington, and the last from Sir Will'am Gregory. Accor- 
ding to the Directory, the extent of these estates is as 
follows :— Tea Total 
acres acres 
Cameron's Land 165 287 
Lochiel 168 204 
Rosita nil 310 
Tangakelly 323 348 
Total 656 1,149 
All the above are estites which ought to do well for 
the Company, Oamerou's Land in particular being as 
fine and strong a sheet of tea as one could wish to see. 
Mr. Hill keeps Harrington, where he will reside and 
have charge of the other estates — Lochiel, Camerou's 
Land, and Rosita— on behalf of the Company. — Local 
"Times." 
The Rubber Supply from Brazil. — A New York 
ruhber importer, speaking of Brazil, said : — " Unjess 
the ports are blockaded, and traffic on the coast in- 
terrupted, commerce will be little interfered with, 
and prices will not falh as some predict, The only 
apprehenoiou is in regard to the effect upon Brazilian 
nuances. Brazil has lately enjoyed a boom, something 
like the Argentine Republic, and everything has be- 
come iuflated. A considerable amount of money from 
Europe has been invested in securities and business 
interests there, and loans have been negotiated by 
the Government. Brazilian exchange has risen in the 
last two years from 20 to 28, which is above par. 
Should a financial crisis be prec'pitated by the trouble 
the eff- ct may be serious. I don't thn k the Brazilian 
people are ready for a change to a Republican form 
of government just yet. . There is a large class of poor, 
ignorant people who were recently releasea from slavery. 
The existing Government — or the late Government as 
it may now be styled— has been exceedingly liberal 
and progressive, and should have had the better 
classes with it,"— India-rubber Journal, 
