62 General Geographical Description 
of it to this work ; though in a few instances it does not ex- 
actly correspond with my own calculation, or with the map. 
The improvements made in the communications by the Dutch, 
were dictated more by their jealousy than any plans of liberal 
policy. At a great expense they built forts and posts at cer- 
tain distances round the island, with a view to prevent any 
intercourse between the natives and foreigners. This was what 
they chiefly feared ; and while they fruitlessly spent large sums 
and much pains in this pursuit, they neglected the means of 
rendering the island beneficial to themselves, or secure against 
the intrusion of other nations. 
To speak of the soil in general, it is sandy, with but a small 
mixture of clay. In the south-west parts however, particularly 
about Columbo, there is a great deal of marshy ground, very 
rich, and exceedingly productive. This tract, is chiefly oc- 
cupied with cinnamon plantations, and the rest of the island, 
in its present state of cultivation, does not produce a sutficient 
quantity of rice for the consumption of its inhabitants ; but 
requires yearly supplies from Bengal and other places on the 
continent. I am convinced, however, that this is entirely owing 
to mismanagement, and that with proper attention, the neces- 
sity of importation might be entirely superseded. Since March 
1800, the cultivation of rice has considerably increased; and 
many tracts on the west coasts, hitherto wild, marshy, and un- 
cultivated, have been applied to the raising of this useful ar- 
ticle. 
The island of Ceylon was originally divided into a number 
of distinct petty kingdoms, separated by the several rivers and 
mountains which are dispersed over the face of the island, and 
