795 
GOLD IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE : 
THE DEWURANAGALA GOLD FIELDS. 
[From a Planting Correspondent.) 
I have read up "Lyell," and also turned up 
the articlo "Gold Mining in Ceylon" in your 
Directory. The latter has very much enlightened 
my darkness, and is already a guiding light how 
and where to proceed on the spot. 
The man Dominico (who is he ? I( ) appears to 
have been the real pioneer, or discoverer of the 
dark doings of the constable Arachchi. Your maps, 
or plans obtainable from the Survey Department 
will probably furnish the best guides to what is 
Government Waste Land aud what is not. [No 
doubt , — Ed.] 
The first applicants who prospect and apply in 
a hurry are not the most likely to get the best 
grants, especially those who go to work quite ignor- 
ant of the teaohings of geology. What should be 
tirst ascertained, if possible, is whether the mother 
veins exist in subjacent rocks or in more elevated 
distant ridges : the rinds being so far, I understand, 
in the alluvium only. This is a clue, but only a 
elue, to the situation of the veins (though the 
deposits themselves may bo found to be rich enough 
to work) as upheavals, subsidences, and denudations 
may have altered the direction of the water-shed 
Bince the remote times when the auriferous allu- 
vium of Deurangalla was deposited. Time spent 
in a little preparation to understand the subject 
by study will not be lost time. 
By the Observer to hand since penning the above, 
I see a Colombo Syndicate has sent Mr. George 
Armitage to prospect, and gives also the position 
and distance of Akuressa. I fancy he will form 
an opinion more on what he can exact of the 
truth of past finds than on the results of actual 
digging himself, but we shall see. If he digs and 
digs for a week and finds nothing, that will be no 
dispro if, Nor will a nugget turned up with the 
lirst cut of the mamoty with nothing after it, be 
proof of much wealth. I fancy the first eager 
pioneers, in this as in other things, will only 
show the later comer bow to improve upon their 
proceedings. Besides, 1 see that Government res- 
tricts the leases and licences to very meagre lots, 
so that there will be plenty of land left. 
(From an old Australian Digger.) 
I got your note about the new " Gold Field, " 
and had urrangrd to start en route this morning, 
but learned by the Observer that came in last night! 
that the distance is much greater than I 
had anticipated, being 86 milos Iroin Galle, 
so I must re-arrange for longer time. About 
these nuggets 1 fear they are too many and 
two heavy to be reliable. If such finds can 
be got with their unskilled and unsystematic way 
of working, it is time we were oil to peg out a 
claim. I shall go and see what is to be seen and 
hoar what ia to be heard ; but lirst shall call at 
the Kaohcheri, and soe what assistance or informa- 
tion Acting Government Agent can give me. 
Ttt the Editor, Qeyton Observer. 
27th April 1888. 
Dear Sir,— With rcferonce to your para on quartz 
apacj na in your issuo of 23rd inst., it might 
be of some importance to those who think Uioy 
liavo auriferous quartz in their propertiei to know 
that they oat) L.udly fail to detect gold by tho 
naked t y hi quart/ ii ii i, there. Nothing oOold 
show more distinctly, whether you are experienced 
or not than gold does in quarts. The lea st speck, 
»An Italian who eomo hero aomo years uiio alter 
red coral.— Ed. 
though not larger than a needle prick in a sheet of 
paper, if enough to be visible, cannot be mistaken. 
J Iron pyrites, mica, or other metallic substances 
show different shades of colour as you turn the 
stone in your hand. Gold will never change its 
shade ; turn it or look at it as you like. It 
is also worth noting that if there is gold in 
paying quantity in quartz you are certain to 
see it by breaking up some of the stones and ex- 
amining them carefully, even with as little as G 
penny-weights to the ton, you will see a great 
many specks. If the quartz is difficult to get 6 
penny-weights is not a paying quantity ; you will 
see it in many of the stones with little trouble if 
in payable quantity. 
1 remember many years ago good Mr. John 
Anwardt showing me a cooty sack full of road 
metal from a quarry near Galle, and asking 
whether I would take shares in a Gold Ileef Company 
that he intended getting up to work it. The 
stone was full of iron pyrites. Had there been 
as much gold, the outturn would have been 
enormous ; but not a speck of gold was to be 
seen, and as unlikely stone to find gold in as 
you could imagine. I told him so, but his expecta- 
tions had been raised, and he wisely resolved to 
have it tested, the result of which led him slowly 
and sadly to realize the fact that his fortune did 
not lie in the quarry at Galle. 
Quarts may be very simply tested, thus : — Take 
10 lb. or more (the greater the quantity, the more 
reliable the evidence), burn it well, then grind it 
to powder, next put it in a strong iron vessel, and 
apply great heat and stir it. The partioles of 
gold will melt like lead and run altogether in 
one piece at the bottom. Or instead of heat, water 
and quicksilver could be used, but as no one is 
likely to try the experiment, I need not give details. 
— Yours, (fee. Experience. 

CEYLON TEA PLANTATIONS 
COMPANY, (LIMITED). 
LS'COnPOUATKD UNDKil THE COMPANIES* ACTS, 
1862 to 1883. 
Offices. — 21 Miuoiug Lane, London, E. C. 
DiuKCTOns. — David Beid, Esq., Thomanean, Kinross- 
Shire, CHAIRMAN ; Donald Mackay Esq., Hereford ; 
Henry Tod, Esq., 21 Mincing Lane ; David Keid, Esq., 
7, Minting Lane. 
Secbetaby. — Henry Tod, Esq. 
MANAGES in Ceyi.ON. — Henry Kerr Rutherford, Esq. 
BaNKI'.hs. — The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, 
London and China. Tho Commercial Bank of Scot- 
land, Limited, 123, Eishopsgate Street. 
Solicitous. — Messrs. Murray, Uutchins and Stirling. 
1 1 , liirrhin Lnue, E. 0. 
Armnuiv— Mr. II. II. Miller, In, Coleman Street, E.O. 
UEPOHT <>K THE DIRECTORS to be submitted 
at the First Annual Genernl Meeting of Shareholders 
to bo held at the Offices of tho Company on Friday, 
1.1th April, at 12 noon. 
The Directors have the pleasure to submit the (Jeue- 
ral Balance Sheet and Prnfit and Loss Account for 
the ye ir ending Hist December, 1887, duly audited. 
The not profit, nfter providing for tho General Ex- 
peoaas, including Directors' Fees, Incorhe I' s d 
Tti \. (fed amount to .. .. 13,2"»7 18 3 
An ttd interim dividend of G 
per cent, was paid on 18th July, X ad 
1887. absorbing 4,505 8 0 
A socond iulerim dividend of 
I per cent, was paid ou 1,'tb 
January, 188ft, absorbing . . 8,003 12 0 
It ia proposed to pay a final 
dividend of Q pur cunt, iinaking 
16 pel tout iu all, frot> of In- 
cuuiu I'm; which will absorb .',•.>! 10 0 
