THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
365 
I have had occasion in the course of this volume to re- 
mark that the soil and climate of Ceylon are favourable to 
the production of some very valuable articles of commerce. 
Tea, coffee, tobacco, and sugar-cane, have already been culti- 
vated to great advantage. This circumstance was not unknown 
to the Dutch; but, with a policy of unexampled absurdity, 
they repressed every attempt to cultivate these articles in 
this island, fearing it might diminish their value in the other 
Dutch East India possessions where they were produced. I 
need not dwell on the advantages both to our commerce and 
revenue which may be obtained by pursuing a different system. 
It is not useless to observe that the tea-plant is found in 
the greatest abundance in the northern parts, which are 
most unfavourable to other kinds of produce. 
I need not here repeat what I have already said with re- 
spect to the improvements which must necessarily result 
from making roads, and thus opening the communication 
between the different parts of the island. It is, however, 
but justice to remark, that at the time I left the island. 
Governor North was busily employed with every object which 
could tend to its advantage. He was then on the eve of 
setting out on a tour round the island, for the sake of in- 
specting its state in person. In this expedition he was to be 
accompanied by several gentlemen well calculated to examine 
the various natural productions with skill and accuracy. 
The revenue of Ceylon is of course an article of great 
interest and importance to our government ; but from what 
