368 
Former and Pt'esent State of Ceylon. 
prolits of the pearl-fishery, and the imposts laid on the several 
articles imported into Ceylon from other parts of India. 
With reg ard to the various sources from which the revenue 
is derived, and the amount of each, my short stay in the 
island after its affairs were again reduced to regular order, 
prevented me from obtaining any very particular information. 
Of the cinnamon produce, I learnt that about 5000 bags are 
annually sent home, or at least brought from the woods to 
Columbo. Each bag weighs 86 pounds. The cinnamon costs 
government about sixpence a pound for barking, and three- 
pence for all other expences. It is sold for about seven shil- 
lings and sixpence to the East India company, to whom it is 
delivered in the island, and they of course bear all the sub- 
sequent charges. Government, therefore, has six shillings and 
nine-pence a pound clear on about 430,000 pounds of cinnamon. 
It is understood that the cinnamon and pearl fishery together 
bring in an annual revenue of about ^350,000 sterling. All 
calicoes, cottons, and other Indian manufactures, must be stamp- 
ed on importation into the island, and pay a duty of five 
per cent. The fisheries, the betel nut, and the manufacture of 
arrack are annually farmed out to the highest bidder of the 
black merchants, and the revenue derived from them amounts 
to at least ^ 50,000 per annum. From pepper, cardamoms, 
elephants, ivory, precious stones, and a few other articles of 
native produce, such as cocoa-nut oil, coya rope, &c. govern- 
ment derives an annual revenue of about ^800,000. Some- 
thing is also derived from a tax imposed on the rice impor- 
ted for the use of the troops. Out of this revenue the sala- 
ries of the civil officers and the pay of the troops are defray- 
ed, as well as the other incidental expences of the island, 
such as the erection and repair of public works. 
