THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, 
321 
took possession of Ceylon, there has been a great influx of 
people of all descriptions, both those who only resort hither 
occasionally for the sake of traffic, and such as come with 
the intention of making it their permanent residence. This 
influx of strangers was formerly greatly limited by the narrow 
and jealous policy of the Dutch; but the liberal policy of 
our government in encouraging it, although a few temporary 
inconveniences, such as a rise in the price of provisions, may 
be the consequence, lays the foundation of a more numerous 
population, and consequently a future encrease of wealth and 
prosperity. 
One principal cause of the scarcity of vegetables, which 
form so great an article of food in these warm climates, 
for the first years after our gaining possession of the island, 
was the Dutch having failed two successive seasons in pro- 
curing their usual annual supply of seeds from the Cape of 
Good Hope and Holland. The seeds of European plants of 
all sorts degenerate very much in this climate in a few 
years, and soon yield but an indifferent produce. "They re- 
quire much care in the rearing, and no less in preserving 
the seeds from the ravages of the ants and other vermin, 
which fasten upon every thing of the vegetable kind that 
comes within their reach. To preserve the quality, it is 
absolutely necessary to have a fresh importation of seeds 
nearly every year from their natural climates. 
Such articles however, as are the native produce of the 
island, are found in great abundance and at a moderate price. 
II 
