Volume 1 / Part 1 — CHAPTER I.
Reading edition
GEOLOGY.—MINERALOGY.—GEMS.
I. General Aspect.
Singular beauty of the island 3 Its ancient renown in consequence 4 Fable of its "perfumed winds" (note) 4 Character of the scenery 5
II. Geographical Position 6
Ancient views regarding it amongst the Hindus,—"the Meridian of Lanka" 6 Buddhist traditions of former submersions (note) 7 Errors as to the dimensions of Ceylon 8 Opinions of Onesicritus, Eratosthenes, Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy, Agathemerus 8, 9 The Arabian geographers 9 Sumatra supposed to be Ceylon (note) 10 True latitude and longitude 11 General Eraser's map of Ceylon (note) 11 Geological formation 12 Adam's Bridge 13 Error of supposing Ceylon to be a detached fragment of India 14
III. The Mountain System 14
Remarkable hills, Mihintala and Sigiri 15 Little evidence of volcanic action 16 Rocks, gneiss 16 Rock temples 17 Laterite or "Cabook" 17 Ancient name Tamba-panni (note) 17 Coral formation 19 Extraordinary wells 21 Darwin's theory of coral wells examined (note) 22 The soil of Ceylon generally poor 24 "Patenas," their phenomena obscure 24 Rice lands between the hills 26 Soil of the plains, "Talawas" 27
IV. Metals.—Tin 29
Gold, nickel, cobalt 29 Quicksilver (note) 29 Iron 30
V. Minerals.—Anthracite, plumbago, kaolin, nitre caves 31
List of Ceylon minerals (note) 32
VI. Gems, ancient fame of 32
Rose-coloured quartz (note) 33 Mode of searching for gems 34 Rubies 34 Sapphire, topaz, garnet, and cinnamon stone, cat's-eye, amethyst, moonstone 37, 38 Diamond not found in Ceylon (note) 38 Gem-finders and lapidaries 39
VII. Rivers.—Their character 40
The Mahawelli-ganga 41 Table of the rivers 41
VIII. Singular coast formation, and its causes 43
The currents and their influence 44 Word "Gobb" explained (note) 46 Vegetation of the sand formations 48 Their suitability for the coconut 51
IX. Harbours.—Galle and Trincomalie 52
Tides 52 Red infusoria 53 Population of Ceylon 53
CHAP. II.
CLIMATE.—HEALTH AND DISEASE.
Uniformity of temperature 54
Brilliancy of foliage 56
Colombo.—January—long shore wind 56
February—cold nights (note) 57
March, April 58
May—S.W. monsoon 58
Aspect of the country before it 59 Lightning 60 Rain, its violence 61
June 62
July and August, September, October, November. N.E. monsoon 63
December 64
Annual quantity of rain in Ceylon and Hindustan (note) 65
Opposite climates of the same mountain 66
Climate of Galle 67
Kandy and its climate 67
Mists and hail 69
Climate of Trincomalie (text and note) 70
Jaffna and its climate 71
Waterspouts 72
Anthelia 73
Buddha rays 73
Ceylon as a sanatarium.—Neuera-ellia 74
Health 75 Malaria 75 Food and wine 76, 77 Effects of the climate of Ceylon on disease 79 Precautions for health 80
CHAP. III
VEGETATION.—TREES AND PLANTS.
The Flora of Ceylon imperfectly known 83
Vegetation similar to that of India and the Eastern Archipelago 84
Trees of the sea-borde.—Mangroves—Screw-pines, Sonneratia 85
The Northern Plains.—Euphorbiæ Cassia.—Mustard-tree of Scripture 87
Western coast.—Luxurious vegetation 87
Eastern coast 88
Pitcher plant.—Orchids 88
Vines 89
Botany of the Mountains.—Iron-wood, Bamboo, European fruit-trees 90
Tea-plant—Rhododendron—Mickelia 90 Rapid disappearance of dead trees in the forests 91 Trees with natural buttresses 91
Flowering Trees.—Coral tree 92
The Murutu—Imbul—Cotton tree—Champac 93 The Upas Tree—Poisons of Ceylon 95 The Banyan 95 The Sacred Bo-tree 97 The India Rubber-tree—The Snake-tree 98 Kumbuk-tree: lime in its bark 99
Curious Seeds.—The Dorian, Sterculia foetida 100 The Sea Pomegranate 100 Strychnos, curious belief as to its poison 101
Euphorbia—The Cow-tree, error regarding (note) 101
Climbing plants, Epiphytes, and flowering creepers 102
Orchids—Brilliant terrestrial orchid, the Wanna-raja.—Square-stemmed Vine 103
Gigantic climbing Plants 104 Enormous bean 105 Bonduc seeds.—Ratans—Ratan bridges 106
Thorny Trees.—Raised as a natural fortification by the Kandyans 107 The buffalo thorn, Acacia tomentosa 108
Palms 109 Coco-nut—Talipat 110 Palmyra 111 Jaggery Palm—Arcea Palm 112
Betel-chewing, its theory and uses 112 Pingos 114
Timber Trees 115 Jakwood—Del—Teak 116 Suria 117
Cabinet Woods.—Satin-wood—Ebony—Cadooberia 117
Calamander, its rarity and beauty 118 Tamarind 119
Fruit-trees 119
Remarkable power of trees to generate cold and keep their fruit chill 121
Aquatic Plants—Lotus, red and blue 123
Desmanthus natans, an aquatic sensitive plant 123