February 2, 1891.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
581 
IS SULPHUR TO BE FOUND IN CEYLON! 
The above query is put to U3 by a correspondent 
who tells us he has searched the Import and 
Export tables given in our Directory for any 
mention of sulphur in vain. He further adds that 
as he finds brimstone to have a place in those 
tables, he conjectures that our import of sulphur 
is generically included under that heading. If this be 
not the case, he says, he is at a loss to conceive 
whence the supply for the local demand for the 
article is obtained, and he asks us it we can inform 
him whether there is any local production of it 
from which this apparently obvious demand can 
be met. 
The only instance known to us personally of 
sulphur being found in Ceylon is that of the well- 
known hot wells at Bubula on the Badulla- 
Battioaloa road. These springs are distinctly sul- 
phurous, the yellow crystals forming in abundance 
around their edges ; but we have never heard 
whether these are collected, or, if they be, whether 
they have been so dealt with as to form^an article 
of trade or commerce ? Now it is certain that in 
one form or another sulphur enters largely into 
the daily us?s of civilization. It is one of the 
main components a so of gunpowder, and we fancy, 
though we do not feel certain on the point— that 
we have read that in earlier times, before the 
introduction on a large seal® explo- 
sive from Europe, the native® used to manu- 
facture the coarse powder they employed 
for themselves. If this was the I® every 
probability that the sulphur required for the 
preparation was obtained from lo®al sources. Even 
in regard to India, we learn from our own com- 
pilation of “Gold, Gems” &c., that the sources 
of sulphur are limited in extent and only sufficient 
to meet local demands. “They are chiefly ®®u- 
neoted with the occurrence of hot springs.’ 
Whether therefore the sulphur now required locally 
be imported under the head of ‘‘ brimstone 
or not, it is certain that, to some extent at all 
events, sulphur in its natural state is to be found 
in Oeylon. As we have said, but one locality is 
at present known to us where it may be found; but 
even this solitary instance is a sufficient ground 
for the assumption that it might be found more 
widely difiused. Geologists tell us that wherever 
igneous rocks are to be found, wherever there exists 
traces of a past volcanic action, sulphur is sure to be 
more or less present, If this be the case, it is 
certainly singular that hot mineral springs are 
not to be found more commonly in Ceylon than 
is generally known. The knowledge possessed on the 
subject of local deposits of sulphur seems to be 
extremely restricted ; Tennent scarcely refers to it, 
and yet the consumption of sulphur in any modern 
community must be large. Whence then is the supply 
for our local demand for it met ? We have cited 
proof of its existence in Ceylon, and it might well 
be that some discussion of the matter would 
tend towards the creation of an industry concerned 
with its collection and preparation. Does the re- 
siduum found in our salt-collecting pans ever show 
traces of sulphur? We have always understood 
that it is more or less present among ih’; impurities 
of rock salt, but are unaware if it be a constituent 
in that obtained by the evaporation of sea water. 
Probably some local scientist would be able to 
throw light on this part of the subject. The chief 
source of European supply we believe to be from 
mines worked in the neighbourhood of Mount 
Etna in Sicily, an active volcano certain to bring 
the article to the surface. But it must e xit in 
many other places, and the only question is wLther 
in Buch localities it is at so great a depth as 0 > 
73 
commercially unworkable. The springs at Bubula 
before referred to at all events bring it in con- 
siderable quantities to the upper levels, and those 
springs are scarcely likely to be the solitary in- 
tance to be found in Ceylon. 
IRRIGATION AND ARTESIAN WELLS. 
The following is a communication from one who hai 
spent some years in ihe N. C. Province which, since 
its formation bv Sir William Gregory, has shared very 
largely in ibe Irrigation vote. 
“ After the recent experience of the comparative 
failure of several large Irrigation works lately restored, 
any sensible man interested in the welfare of the 
colony, should protest againt the Government under- 
taking any further expensive worlts, the success of 
which depends entirely on rainfall, which, it need 
hardly be said, often proves to be precarious and dis- 
appointing. It is admitted that all tho stupendous 
tanks in the Island were once in splendid working 
order and had under each of them a teeming popula- 
tion quite happy and contended with their lot. The 
question is how these tanks fell into disuse, and even- 
tually into dis-repair. Undoubtedly a drought con- 
tinuing fora series of years was the cause of their ruin 
and desolation. Pooplo who once thought their posi- 
tion happy had to migrate to other parts of the 
Island where they were provided with an unfailing 
water-supply ; and this was how certain tanks were 
abandoned, neglected and desolated. Who will now 
guarantee that, in the case of the tanks recently 
restored by Government, a like failure and abandon- 
ment will not occur. To provide against such a 
contingency is tho imperative duty of a paternal 
Government ; and the only feasible means of effecting 
this setms to me to be by boring anesian wells to 
serve as feeders to these tanks. A cheap apparatus 
for boring purposes cau now be had for R3,000, snd 
tho cost of sinking a well will be very ii considerable 
when compared with the enormous expenditure incurred 
in the restoration of “giai.t” tanks. In view of 
these circumbtaoces, it is to be hoped that the 
Government will make a start in this direction without 
delay. Au experiment may be made in the case of 
one of the tanks m the Nonhoru or Nortb-C' ntial 
Provinces. There is, 1 believe, a vote ol E9, 000, allowed 
in the Supply Bill tor 1891, tor experiments with regard 
to Artesian wells. — “ JaUna Patriot.” 
- — ♦ 
A PEPPER SHIPMENT. 
In the Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Divibion, 
before the Right Hon. the Prebident, Euwaiu Bou- 
stead & Co. and Edward Pink & Sous v. the Owuers 
of the ship “August” was au important caao heard 
on Saturday, luvolving points of interest to 
iraders and merchants, more particularly to dealers 
in Eastern produce. Mr. J. G. Barnes, q. c., and 
Mr. F. W. Hollams appeared for the plaindfl- ; Sir 
Walter Phillimore, Dr. Raikes, and Mr. Arthur Pritch- 
ard represented the uetendams. Tho statement of 
claim, which was delivered on February 12th, lo'JO, set 
forth that the plaintiffs had suffered damage by oieach 
of the contracts set forth in five bills oi Jading ot goods 
shipped by or on behalf of the plaintiffs, at Singapore, 
on board the doiendants’ sailing-vessel the “Augu.st,” 
and consigneii to London. The bills ot ladiog v no 
dated May 14tb, 1889, and were respectively- signed by 
tho muster o! t'.e said vessel as the agent lor Ro do, 
tendanis. Tho nou-d livery ot I,u0l bags of pepper- 
part oi the ta ’go shipped in the said Vvssel, and included 
in the said bins lading, was the broach complained, 
of. Altetuifively, the p aiuufls alleged that they fiad, 
suffered damage by iba doteiidants, iheir servants and 
agouts, wroiigtu ly u< pviving the plainij^.s of pertain, 
goods, town, l,b94 bags ot ptp,.a.r delivered to the 
defendants by or on behalt the plaintiffs, to bo 
carried in tho defendant^ vessel the “Augntt,” fr oryy 
