THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
s6 
At the mouth of it is a small harbour, where sloops and other 
small vessels often put in and land their cargoes, which are 
afterwards conveyed up the Mulivaddy, and then, by canals 
which communicate with it, to the lake which skirts the 
town of Columbo. The country through which this com- 
munication is carried on is perfectly flat for a great w~ay in 
every direction, and abounds with considerable lakes and 
rivers, which give the greatest facility to forming canals. 
The sides of the rivers and canals are skirted with thick 
woods and jungle, which afford a most grateful shade to the 
passengers from the scorching heat of the sun, and also 
supply the inhabitants with plenty of fuel, as the rivers do 
with the greatest abundance of fish. With both of these 
last articles, Ceylon is much better provided than any other 
part of India which I have visited. 
One of the principal articles exported from Nigumbo by 
the inland communications consists of fish. This trade is 
considered as the property of government, and is annually 
farmed out for several thousand rupees. A Moor or Malabar 
man is usually the farmer, and he alone is allowed to dispose 
of the fish caught here. lie employs all the boats belonging 
to the place, paying the owners a certain daily hire. The 
people he engages are compelled by the authority of govern- 
ment to fish every day that the weather will permit, Sundays 
and particular festivals excepted. These fishermen are obliged 
to purchase from the farmer any fish they may w r ant for 
