May i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST; 
745 
STAPLE EXPOETS OF CEYLON FOR TEN 
YEARS. 
In reality the table compiled by the Chamber 
of Commerce is only for the two ports of Colombo 
and Galle ; but aB a matter of faot from these alone 
are our principal produots sent beyond the seas. At 
the same time there will alwayB be a difference 
between the Customs' and the Chamber's returns 
for the calendar years, for this reason. The Cus- 
toms enters in its export return every shipment 
as it passes on board vessels in the Laivuur and 
on 81st December has in its total a ( cod rlral of 
produoe tbat has not left our harbour; ahi e the 
Chamber of Commerce makes no entry in its ex- 
port rp.turn until the vessel has cleared and left 
our shores. 
In analysing the present Export return there is 
not much which has not been the Bubject of remark 
in connection with the old season's returns : coffee 
has gone down from 601,258 cwt. 'plantation ' kind 
in 1880 to 83,300 cwt. last year or not one-seventh ; 
while native coffee has gone down in the same time, 
from 47 554 cwt. to about one-tenth in 4,782 cwt. 
Cinchona Bark on the other hand at the opening of the 
decade gave only 1,151,102 lb. for export, but rose to 
14 838,402 lb. in 1886, and went down last year to 
9,283,729 lb. Tea is wonderful in its steady rise 
in ten years from 114,845 lb. to 34,048,085 lb. 
Cocoa too in a smaller way shews a wonderfully 
steady rate of increase, the only check being in 
1888, If counted in lb. like tea the export of 
cocoa would look quite respectable at over 2 mi lion 
lb. Cardamoms in its progressive rise from 10,484 
lb. to 361,224 lb. is very satisfactory. Cinnamon 
we all hope — in "chips" at least— will begin to show 
a falling-off, although hitherto, in both bales and 
chips, the figures have been shewing steady deve- 
lopment. Coconut oil has seen many vioissitudes 
between the exports— 347,208 cwt. in 1880, 387,817 
cwt. in 1884, and 356,576 cwt. in 1889. But the 
other products of the Coco Palm have come to the fron 
in Copra which rose in exports from 24,711 cwt 
in 1880 to a maximum of 189,306 cwt. in 1884 
only to fall to 138,678 cwt. in 1888 and to 
the very poor return of 38,384 cwt. last year. Its 
place has however to some extent been taken by 
" Coconut Poonac," the shipments of which 
have gone on progressively from 26,456 owt. in 
1884 to 136,237 cwt. last year. A new 
heading in the statement of recent years is "Coco- 
nuts" of whioh nearly 10f millions were sent away 
in 1887, last year the export being a little over 
5 millions. Plumbago has developed wonderfully of 
recent years, the export having been 208,643 cwt. in 
1880 and keeping steadily at between that and 270,000 
cwt. until last year when suddenly;the enormous 
export of 475,516 owt. took place. The utmost activity 
in this branch of industry still continues and the 
the present year also promises well in respect of 
Coconut Products. Next in the list comes some 
of these under the heading Coir (Rope, Yarn and 
Fibre) in which it will be seen the trade for the 
ten years has been, on the whole, a steadily 
progressive one : — 70,000 cwt. of all three shipped in 
1880 contrasting with over 120,000 cwt. last year. 
Ebony on the other hand has woefully fallen off 
from an export of 50,000 owt. to less than 4,000. 
Other minor products do not show much that is 
noteworthy, save for the enormous development of 
the trade in Esssential Oils (Citronella and Cin- 
namon) from 250,000 ounces in 1880 to abeut 10$ 
million ounces la6t year. 
We reour to the Return compiled and published 
by the Chamber of Commerce and to enable our 
onticism and comparisons to be dearly uad.ors.tood, 
wo reprint the table, onoe more here 1— 
94 
