354 
TIIE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
shining surface, but is not transparent. It is too common to 
be of any great value. 
The cat's eye is a species of opal, and receives its name 
from a white sparkling ray in the centre, which still meets 
the eye whichever way you turn it. This stone is much 
esteemed by the natives of India, and a perfect one of the 
size of a nut will fetch sixty rix- dollars and upwards. The 
rarity and curiosity of the cat’s-eye is the cause of its high 
price. It is much worn in rings by the Indians. 
Cornelians , and other stones of the same description, are 
found in Ceylon in great plenty. Precious stones were for- 
merly an article of revenue, and collected by farmers, who 
contracted for a particular range with government. This plan, 
however, has for some years back been given up, as the 
stones found in the King of Candy’s dominions were superior 
to those of the lower parts of the island, and the Dutch 
found it the easiest method of procuring them to demand 
from him a certain quantity as tribute. For some time that 
Prince was obliged to comply with the mandates of his im- 
perious neighbours, and send them a certain proportion of 
stones every year. Of late, however, he has shaken off this 
servitude ; and to tempt the avarice of Europeans as little 
as possible, he has prohibited any more from being collected 
in his dominions. lie does not now allow his subjects, on 
any account, to barter precious stones with Europeans, or to 
carry any above a certain value out of his territories, under 
