Jan. I, 1898.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
S°7 
had been manured with a strong-smellin" 
fertiliser, and the flavour of which liad been 
distinctly affected, whilst the wdne from the 
unmanufactured plot of the same vineyard was all 
right — Yours truly, A. BAUR, 
The Ceylon Manure Works. 
ESTATE SUPERINTENDENTS AND 
PROPRIETORS. 
Sir, — How is it you have never given us your 
views on the question of treatment of Superin- 
tendents and all Tea Planiers by Pioprietors? 
Further reference to it seems desirable as some 
practical good may result from adequate venti- 
lation of the matter. As a contemporary of 
yours once pointed out, the only difference — 
a very material one too — in which way employers 
treat their Superintendents and Assistants is, 
that the one is recognized as a fellow human 
being, toiling in a trying and dangerous climate 
to make capital bring in its largest leturn to 
the owner and the other is considered simply as a 
machine, to be used as long as it can go and 
then to be cast aside ! Awaiting your opinion. 
— I am, yours truly, 
GREATLY INTERESTED. 
GEM DIGGING AND GOLD PROSPECTING 
IN CEYLON. 
Sib, — Will you kindly allow me for the second time 
a little room in your valuable columns for the benefit 
of your readers who may be interested in this 
special industry in the island. 
I have read with interest some paragraphs 
which appeared in the local ‘‘ limes ” a few days ago. 
I agree with the explanations given by the writer, 
as regards the eriental amethyst (the mlakanthij a of 
the natives) which is a mixture of the red and blue 
colour in the same stone. When the ruby colour is 
predominant the stone is subjected to fire and in 
most of the cases the blue colour will disappear, 
leaving a first-class ruby, but when the blue colour 
is in excess no attempt is made to subject it to 
the fire and it is cut as it is and takes the name 
of the orien.al amethyst. Tie real Ceylon amethyst 
is the best specimen 1 have ever seen. Certainly 
Lockhart's Gem Separator will not retain it as the 
specific gravity is very low. Even with the present 
system of washing if the water is muddy when the 
Washer can’t see its sparkling colour, in many in- 
stances it is lost, as this gem will not settle down 
under the gravel where the other gems separate from 
the rubbish. The amethysts, which are produced 
in Mexico and Brazil can’t approach the Ceylon 
specimens. Up to date there has not been discovered 
any gemmiferous primitive soil or matrix from which 
the gems are disintegrated. Therefore gemming is 
carried on only where the deposits of alluvial soil 
hides the deposit of gravel where gems are supposed 
to be. This kind of gravel or strata is found at 
different dep hs, depending especially upon 
the size of the water-course. When digging 
near a river at a depth of about 90 feet, I came 
across two or three strata of illau one over the 
other. The two upper ones showed no signs of gems, 
but gems and gold I found in the last one, that is to 
say the gravel resting on the malava, as it is 
caded by the gemmers, or the primitive soil of 
the English. Therefore to wash all the alluvial 
silt which covers the gravel seems to me to be 
absurd. I admit that a gem may have been picked 
up by a cooly wcman in Rangwulatenne estate 
without any signs of iilan. When the island came 
out Irom under the waters and before the vegetation 
took place, naturally the earth was naked. There- 
fore the water could easily wash the earth carrying 
with it all that it contained. In these days also 
landslips were more frequent and in large masses 
ftnd wlieie the waters found space there they left 
it, so the present alluvial deposits which now we 
come across are of primitive formation. Then when 
the earth covered herself with vegetation the 
water could no more wash easily the soil of the high- 
est mountains so it is not easy to find gems in recent 
deposits. 
After the opening of so many estates in the island 
and the land being bare and naked again it will not 
be strange to find a gem on the surface of the 
earth without any signs of iilan. The gem being 
naturally disintegrated from her matrix by the 
action of the water and remaining there unprotected 
on the surface, anyone could have picked it up • 
this has happened many times on upcountry estates. 
As to gold the writer says in his letter of 
the 17th inst., that gold has been found in the 
iilan of gem pits in specks up to the size of half 
grains of rice. Gold has been found by myself a 
great deal larger than that size. At a 
place called Deturangalla three miles this side of 
Mqrawaka, gold nuggets were found of ten penny- 
weights and larger. ^ 
Another well-known European and I went pros- 
pecting there and we could not trace the matiix 
from which the gold had been disintegrated. I hope 
as the writer sa.v s that Mr. Lockhart’s Separator 
may locate it in the bottom of the machine, but it 
cannot point out the reef. 
There is another trouble which the Gem Separator 
will find on the way, that is, that the alluvial soil of the 
island contains a large quantity of piroxides of man- 
ganese which will fill up the receiver in no time 
so there will be little or no space left for the 
gems, especially the large ones which remain at the 
very top of the Kalu-icelln. There is another place 
well-knovn to me wheie I found gold dust and 
pepitas, better than the last-named place. I am suie 
that some startling things will be found— things 
which will surprise not only the afoiesaid writer 
but the inhabitants of the island. 
^ At the time of the gold prospecting f ver in 
Ceylon I applied to Government for assistance, but 
it was lefustd. As my means could not affoid’ the 
prospecting expenses the matter died a natural death- 
but, if God spare my life and piovide me with the 
means to go and prospect the place at my own ex- 
pense, I will not leave a spot unsearched for the 
piecious metal. If this trial is notallowec’ to me the 
secret will pass to my heir.— Yours faithfully 
A. DE DOMiiucO. 
GOLD IN UVA. 
Dkar Sir,— I have read with interest your 
leader on “ Mining and Gemming in Ceylon ” 
I would certainly endorse Mr. Daly’s opinion 
that the quarts and localities at the foot of the 
hills below Namunukula Kanda should be searched 
and examined by Mr. C. Tottenham’s friend Capt 
Tregay ; there is a village called '' Rang-denia’’ 
reputed in ancient times as being a city of gems 
and gold in such abundance that the very plough 
shares of the villagers, were made of gold 1 (see 
a book called “ Wagarupota” belonging to Tel- 
denia R.M.) Near Wellawaya there is tiie site of 
an old ruin (temple or dagoba), with a rock in- 
.SCI iptiou recording the existence in ancient times 
of a fabulous w'ealthy city and country whose 
inhabitants died of plague or famine ; and that 
all their goods and chattels, golden ploughshares 
and all, were buried underneath this ruin and 
rock inscription. Some years ago, I got from the 
villagers near about this locality some ancient 
coins in gold and copper, and many other persons 
are said to have found lots of jewelry ; I am of 
opinion that gold may be lound in this locality if 
a search be made. 
As for iron : I remember Lr. Gygax, the geologist 
in June 1858, was at Billuhuloya on his explor- 
ing expedition, and he reported that iron of a 
very superior quality existed betw een Ratnapura 
