38 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
Since the island has come into the possession of the English, 
the roads have been greatly improved. Governor North ordered 
a general survey of them to be made, and the distances to ba 
ascertained, previous to adopting measures for facilitating the 
communications. I have been favoured by Colonel Champagne 
with a chart of the distances around the whole coast of the 
island, and with his obliging permission I have annexed a copy 
of it to this work. 
The improvements made in the communications by the Dutch, 
were dictated more by their jealousy, than any plans of liberal 
policy. At a great expence they built forts and posts at certain 
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, however, is chiefly 
occupied with cinnamon plantations, and the rest of the island, 
in its present state of cultivation, does not produce a sufficient 
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 ne- 
cessity of importation might be entirely superseded. 
