Dr. Davy on the Geology and Mineralogy of Ceylon . 317 
The minerals which occur imbedded in gneiss and its rocky 
varieties amount to a considerable number : in my enumeration of 
them, I shall mention such only as I have myself found, or know 
to have been found, in particular places with which I am ac- 
quainted. 
The only one of a common metal hitherto discovered in gneiss, 
to the best of my knowledge, is iron. This metal, in different 
forms, is general, and pretty abundant : I have met with the follow- 
ing species, imbedded in gneiss ; iron pyrites, magnetic iron ore, 
specular iron ore, and red hematite ; and bog iron ore, and earthy 
blue phosphate of iron, of more recent formation. The red hematite 
and the bog iron ore are the most abundant : it is from these ores 
that the natives usually obtain the iron which they use. A very 
faithful account of the process of smelting iron, adopted by the 
Kandians, is given by Knox in his history of Ceylon. I shall 
mention only the localities of iron pyrites, magnetic iron ore, and 
the blue phosphate; the other kinds are generally diffused, and re- 
quire no notice. Iron pyrites is rare ; I have met with it at Ratna- 
poonaa in Saffragam, disseminated through a rock of grey felspar, 
and in a vein of quartz on the sea-shore at Mount Lavinia. Mag- 
netic iron ore I have found imbedded in gneiss in the neighbour- 
hood of Kandy, and disseminated through gneiss in the neighbour- 
hood of Trincomalie. The earthy blue phosphate of iron I have 
procured from marshy ground in the neighbourhood of Colombo, 
and from a bed of bog iron ore near Atgalli. It is esteemed by 
the natives, by whom it is used as a pigment. 
That other metals have not been found, I may remark, is not 
from want of enquiry. Wherever I have been, I have sought more 
particularly for tin and copper, but in vain. I have never seen the 
slightest traces of either, or of lead. It is asserted in some publica- 
