CEYLON CUSTOMS MALE. 415 the products of the coconut palm will more than compensate. exports reached 13,834,000 lb. last year, of which 2 lb. went to Salonica! will yet be ranked with Australia amongst our customers. The export of tea very nearly doubled in 1887 as compared with 18813, and the process is likely to be repeated in 1888. But say that we export only 21 millions of pounds. If the valuation remains at 60 cents per lb., the total sum in the accounts for tea will be R14,100,000. Even should the .local value be reduced to 55 cents, tea will still rank first in our exports, unless the values of products of the palm tree are aggregated. —It is not tea alone or the accompanying new products," cinchona, cacao and cardamoms, which mark a revolution in the export trade of Ceylon. Who, ten years ago, would have seriously anticipated that the value of Ceylon produce exported would have been appreciably swelled by such an item as Nuwara Eliya brewed beer I The lesson taught us is, that, while taking a properly sober view of our resources, we should not unduly under-estimate those which are still undeveloped,—or the possibilities of our future.* The history of the rise and decadence of and the replacing of the refreshing berry by the fragrant leaf in Ceylon will, we repeat, rank high in the chapter on the romance of commerce. Let us hope that " decadence " may never be written in association with tea. It is not merely the trade of Ceylon, but the navigation which the great harbour at Colombo has attracted, that is furthering the prosperity of this— in a geographical sense —Britain of the east. The increase in tonnage inwards since 1885 has been from 1,823,000 to 2,071,000, an increase of 218,C00 tons in two years. A considerable number of steamers called at Colombo and some at Gable mainly to coal, a branch of our trade which is likely to go on increasing. If the imports of coals have not increased in proportion to the increased resort of steamers, readers will not, of course, forget, that, by means of double and triple expansion engines and other improvements in recently built mail and merchant steamers, one ton of coal now performs the duty for which two perhaps were necessary about a decade back. It is not the port and town of Colombo and the immediate neighbourhood, be it noted, which exclusively benefit by the greatly increased resort of mail, mercantile and calling steamers to the grand harbour. The benefits extend to all interests in the colony. Mail steamers and steamers which call mainly to coal, and which, in the latter case, are glad of a little cargo to drop here or carry away, are all competing for the freight we have to offer, As a result, not only the tea, cinchona, cacao, and other products of the European capitalists, but such absolutely native or largely native products as are yielded by the coconut and areka palms, the cinnamon shrub, the lemon grass and the plumbago mince are carried to the ports of sale at rates the lewest which can be possibly remunerative to the owners of the vast fleets, which, by their resort to our harbour, have rendered Colombo one of the leading emporia of trade and navigation in the world, as it is the capital of a colony which will soon again rank as beyond compare the most flourishing of the dependencies directly governed by the Crown and worthy of comparison with those founded and ruled by men of European race.

" CU11108ITIE8 OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMSJ" (www.historyofceylontea.com)OUR IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE FOR 1887. Grimly dry and forbidding as the fifty-eight tabular pages of closely printed figures look in which the Collector of Customs embodies the Statistics of the Import and Export Trade of Ceylon for 1887, there are yet a great itiikuy facts interesting to all classes of the community to be picked up among them, if only the returns are carefully examined. We propose to run over some of the composra*ivoly minor headings in these annual returns, and to select for the edification of our readers figures which may he considered to represent more or less "Curiosities of the Customs." And first we have the FOOD RE- fr361TEA introduced—apart from the enormous grain importation, in value amount. ing to over twenty-one and a•balf millions of rupees in 1887 (with which we shall de ti separately). let us take LIVE SToox first, and see how, in respect of a supply of beef, mutton, and poultry, the Sinhalese, Tamils, and even Eurasians and Europeans have plenty of scope for supplying a local market anal saving money • In geld, for instance, if capital and enterprise are applied to the deep mining of our auriferous quartz. Our Government ought ti indent on Australia for the use of a diamond drill with the services of a mining expert, to search for gold and also new plutobago deposits. fi See fill-sheet rages 414a-6 and far compari,laa ,7I .sheet pages 430a.1+;

416 CURIOSITIES OF THE CtYLON CUSTOMS.

now sent to India. Premia'ng that some of the imported cattle-not so ninny one woald think in these days -are used for transport purposes, the Import in 1897 was an enormous one at least for oxen, exc eding that of the previous year in value by nearly R55,000, and being as follows :-- Oxen and Bulls ...... No. 5,618 valued at 8211,809 Cows . 38 11 Calves ...... „ 12 11 Sheep and Lambs ... - ... .,. 49,247 Yr Poultry ... ... 108 packages and 2,290 doz. „ Total...11240311:2,L241

[Curieuely enough 2,139 oxen and bulls were sent frow Ceylon to India in 1887, be n4 valued at 1111,325 • while 4 were shipped to the 1-':tritits Settlements and wae valued at R250. ' These latter were probably for breeding purposes]. . Of other FOOD RBQ UISITES from Europe as well as India, we imported in 1887, quantity and value, as follows :- Butter (7 owt. from Australia) ... 337 cwt. value 1139,057 Cheese (10 cwt. from Australia) ... 417 „ „ 29,239 Ham and Bacon (7 cwt. from Australia) 737 ,, ,, 51,657 Beef and Perk salted (3 cwt. from Australia) 210 „ „ 0,469 Biscuits ... ... 753 packages and 13 cwt. value R63,515 Confectionery and Preserves (nearly all from ludia)... 1,191 . packages and 2,979 „ „ 50,757 Oilmanstores ... ... ... 8,688 packages 202,868 Provisions " 2,154 packages, 234 bushels, and 635 cwt. lahle 19,563 Carry Stuffs (from India) 15 packages and 89,937 .,,, 6381:756402 Arrowroot ... ... ••• .77 pkgs. Sago (Straits chiefly) 11 packages and 2,462 cwt. Fish dried and salted (two-thirds from India, one-third from the Maldives) 146,450 „ 1,4;03641,18380:5i Ghee (India almost entirely) ... 916 „ 50,802 Flour (India almost entirely) ... 40,075 „ Onions (India) ...... 67,926 „ 203,780 Potatoes (chiefly from India) .... 18,945 „ 142,090 Groundnuts (from India) 3,358 bushels and 737 „ A good deal of the money (1139,000 per annum) spent un butter594 ought to be saved now that the railway can carry it so quickly from the hills ; also the one and ahalf million rupees Bent to India for selt•tish should be greatly reduced by the establishment of the local industry in fish-curing had it only succeeded. Why also cannot Ceylon find her own " curry-stuffs" ? Onions and potatoes ought clearly to be more freely produced in this island, and the opening by the Nauuoya railway of the onuntry around Nit ware, Ehiya and on to Kandapola and Wilson's Bungalow should make a difference in the supply of all vegetables now imported for the use of consumers chiefly in Colombo. It is rather surprising to see that there is greater value (11203,780) of onions than of potatoes (11142,090) imported; but in each case there is surely room for and eiwouragement to the market gardener. Strange that Ceylon should import arecanuts, but so it is, and this to the amount of nearly 1110,000 from India. Coconuts also ti4nre for R7,565 from the Maldives, an 1 pepper flew Iudia for R19,477. But even more astonishing are some of the next series of imports we compile from these official accounts :- Ingn».led in 1887. TEA (from Straiis,.India and Hongkong) 1,110 Ile. ... 112,789 C‘tri..88 (from Straits and India) 32 pekgs. and 6,835 cwt. ... 89,259 Ctitihtmotis (from India)... 5 packages and 3;18 lb. ... 2,011 PM.' IT UI i pretlerVecl ( India and Australia) 320 pkgs. .. 2,958 Sue 405 ewt. ... 10,138 Sotc (from India) ... 1,257 packages and 5,267 „ ... 97,605 buchtu: candy and refined ...... 16 855 n ... 505,668 ,.. i ) unreffied ... ... ..• • • • 111,016 o 294,152 „ palm and jac,mery ...... 5, 576 ,, ... 27, 881 TOBACCO: cigars ... .•. ... ... 201341, lb. ... 300,621 „ 27 „ - 409 manufactured ...... 98,1e0 i. - 78,894 11 ,„ is utunalittlsetured and hookah ... 95 6110 ,, 29,983 Total „.111,151,388

CURIOSITIES OF TEE CEYLON CUSTOMS 411

ilt. total value of this series is considerable, and there is surely room HI. 'ouch of it to be saved. As closely allied with cigars, we may mention an ilajunt of matches equal to 1154,273 in value., so that altogether sonic R473,000 per annum goes in smoke ! We trust this is the last time we shall have to record an import of tea beyond a very fewpounds for samples. The decrease since 1879, when 78,000 lb. were imported, is satisfactory : brit now we can 'sedan local requirements with a better article than any that can be imported. Oar import of coffee has more than doubled in value what it was last p a-, but we trust this state of things will not continue. It is not right that we should import so much soap (with a good article capable of being manufactured locally, nor is there any necessity for imports of salt, fruit unpreserved, cardamoms, or even tobacco, and certainly not of palm sugar and jaggery. At the same time we are pleased to notice that Ceylon exported " jaggery'' last yyearear to India to t he value of 1123,910. If Ceylon only grew sugar enough for consumption, more than R800,000 per annum might be saved to the Colony ; and so with tobacco, for there is a demand not yet locally met exceeding in value R418,000 per annum. Apart from the large importation of Cotton and Woollen Goods exceeding lt5,055,500 in value in 1887, we have the following imports bearing on clothing, dress and personal adornment :— Wearing apparel ... ... ,,, .,. ... ... 1177,91)1 Boots and shoes ... ... ... ... 20,935 Haberdashery and millinery ... ... 810,117 Eats, caps, bonnets, &e. ... 41. 08,821 Silks 111 188,894 Perfumery „. „, ,.. .., 49,475 Jewellery ••• ••1 ••• ••• 77,342 Pearls and precious stems Onset) 137,184 H osiery ...... 17,798 Blacking ••• ... ,„ 2,438 Total .., R1,468,995 ::u that there is room for the people of Ceylon to spend a good deal more en wearing apparel and ornament. In another direction we have an outlay, part of which might well be saved through local enterprize :- Carts and Carriages ... ••• 406 Pe, R10,882 Furniture ••• • 1 • ••• 44,375 Glass and Glassware ... 106,150 Saddlery and Harness .. ,...... 227124337 fildns of sorts...... Umbrellas (chiefly from Europe and India) ... 124,474 Beeswax ••• •I• ••• ••• ••• ••• 270 Brushes ... .. . 5,253 Painters' Materials .„ ... . 76,077 still more curious is it to find Ceylon importing last year:— Bricks and Tiles valued at ... ..• •.• ••• ••• ••• 8,745 Boats and Canoes .„ •., 3,898 Casks, Shooks and Staves ••• 427,880 .., Coir Stuffs .., ,„ ••• ••• ••• ••• 88,577 Earthenware ...... ,.. „, „, „. ,.. 190,365 which all (but a few thousand rupees) ought surely to be saved to the island ; and yet if Mr. Deane's boxes from Japan and others from Europe and America become the fashion with our tea planter a, the chief item in the above list may increase. At the same time last year, we exported to India and Australia " casks and shooks" to the value of R6,178, and "carts and carriages" to Europe, Australia, India and the straits to a value of U5,435. Manures were imported last year as follows :- Bone Manure (from India) ... ••• Ft P12,1126 Castor Seed Poonac (do.) ••• ••• 73,808 Guano... ... ... •.. ••• 12,431 Total .„ 200,165 We may add imports more or less allied as follows :- Lime and clay Coral ;DUO.i [ s ••• ••• ••• . . I • 1 18 3: 71 35 °7 rOallae ( .I.' for feeding cattle) ... ...' 032,400 Seeds; Bird, Castor, Cotton, Mustard, Poppy, and Rape •.. ,.. ... 22, 309 Needs; Gmgelly ,.. . .•. ,.. 1,711; Reeds and Plants .• OOP 162,3e5 53

418 CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS. The total of " manures " proper imported is not much above one-seventh of what it amountt d to eleven years ago. In 1876 the value of " manures " entered was as high as 111,400,000 ! As the harvesting of tea increases and the cultivation is found to be prof' able, we shall find a m w departure in respect of the import trade in manures. Of MACHINERY and METALS the import in 1887 was considerable, largely owing to the revival of the planting industry, through tea requiring special machinery, while something is no doubt due to the work now done in Colombo in repairing and refitting vessels, iu boat-building, &e. Machinery .. . 4" “. ". 401 R535,975 .Nletals wrought and unwrought :- - Brassware ...... 20,602 Copperware ...... 24,860 Hardware and Cutlery ... 281,070 Leadware ... .., „, 6,563 Plate and Platedware ...... 21,509 Tinware ... 8,152 Zineware ...... 13,010 , Brass, Sheet and Nails ... ,.. .,. 39,093 Copper Sheathing ... • ...... 14,477 Iron, Angle and Swedish Bar, Flat, and 91,045 Iron, Galvanised and Hoop ... 231,176 Iron, Nails, &c...... , 82,870 Iron, Pig ... ••• .,. -. 9,000 iron, Plato and Sheet ... 10,169 Lead, Sheet, Pipe and Pig 5,320 Spelter, Tin, &c...... 1,8411 Steel .•. 12,565 Tin Plates and Zinc ... 1,756 Tanks, iron .., ". ••• 6,256 Quicksilver ... ••• 938 Tea Lead .,. -• ••• ••• 131,398 Total... 111,551,733 Against this, we may place Machinery exported from Ceylon of local manufacture valued at R4,400 and re-exported R32,416 : about 81,800 worth of the machinery made here was sent to British India, and some 1■900 to Netherlands India, being no doubt coffee preparing machinery from the Colombo Ironworks. A certain proportion of the metals in the above list (value 819,979) was re-exported to India, Australia, the Maldives, &e, Government Stores, unspecified, were imported to the value of 11803,140; The taste for LITERATURE, ART, and all that is included in the stock of publisher, bookseller, stationer and printer, slowly bat surely increases in Ceylon, the imports for last year being :- Books and Maps printed ...... R70,068 Paper and Stationery, Drawings, Cards, &c.... 209,271 Prints and Pictures .,. ... .,. .,, 6102 Printing Materials ...... ,.. ...2:75 168 Total... 11293,784 Instruments : musical, optical, schen ilk', and surgical 1137,739 Mere satisfactory are these headings, in reference to the progress of the people, than are those we have next to append showing the importation of MALT LIQUOR, WINES, SPIRITS and ()mem, which in 1887 were represented as follows :- Malt liquor in bottle ...... 11203,991 ? 105,009 ; R300,963 17 71. in wood Spirits : (Biirannt.ly: ,.. ... 66,991-1 , P IP Liqueurs ...... ji):7;g3 433,444 Rum ...... 700 Whiskey ...... 961,314 Wines : Australian ...... ,.. 1695:73 2 84 1 .1 French and claret...... 51 Getman, Hungariau and Rhenish 5,305 j 11 Spamish ...... 10,910 - 298,317 ...... ,.. 31 l'Ort 40,015 1 o Ginger, Madeira, Marsala, Italian 10,541 I P. Sparkling...... 48,528 J (Carry up.)

CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS. 419

(Continued..) Hops 15,765 Cider 200 Opium 9,146 lb. valued at 99,764 Grand Total 81,1117,513 in the face of this array of figures it ought to be satisfactory news io Our total abstinence' friends to learn that every item, save whiskey, shews a considerable decrease not only on recent but on earlier years. So far back as 1860 the import of malt liquor equalled 11325,000 ; in 1870 it was R582,000; in 1874, R560,000 ; in 1878, .1i325,000 : so that the year 1887 showed a falling. off of about 37 per cent. on the average of I the ten years 1870-80. Very marked too is the decrease iu brandy and gin, which in 1878 figured for 12551,000 against R167,490 last year ; whiskey on the other hand (the "poor man's " of Mr. G. A. Talbot) has considerably increased ; but it is strange that among spirit drinkers, so largely composed of Scotchmen, brandy and gin should still be so freely consumed in preference to the "not oval beverage." "Gentlemen," we on one occasion heard Professor Sir Robert Christison say to his medical students' class in Edinburgh C'uiversity, thdre is no doubt that pure French brandy is the best spirit to prescribe when the necessity arises in the course of your practice, but inasmuch as French brandy is almost invariably adulterated, while Scotch whiskey seldom or never is,' I—as the result of my long experience (this was his 110th annual lecture on wines and spirits)--advise you as a rule to make nee of whiikey in your medical prescriptions." Whether the brandy and gin consumed in Ceylon is less adulterated than that current in the Unit.ti Kingdom is the question which consumers ought to ask themselves, fur it is evident that since 1870 imported spirits have been in considerable demand, while the import of malt liquor has decrease I nearly one h ilf, and the con-tump. tion of light French wines has fallen very considerably as may be seen on reference to one flysheet, 4280.* There is nothing alarming in the figures for opium, seeing that the import was over 8,000 lb. so far back as 1860, and that in 1865 the extraordinary and quite unprecedented import figures of 63,974 lb. valued at R479,800 were recorded. This must have been some cross entry, however, of opium landed to be re-exported to the Straits or Chins. Still it is not pleasant to think of 9,976 lb. of opium being consumed in Ceylon in 1887 ; are the Customs valuation and tax (RIO and RI per lb. respectively) high enough we would ask ? This duty ought to have been increased with that on spirits one would think. As connected with the liquor trade we may mention that R10,072 of corks were imported iu 1887. MEDICINES in 1887 were importod to the value of R163,090, of which R52,186 came from India. Irrespective of this we imported Cinchona from India to the value of 112,600. Medicines figured for R170,000 in 1868 and 1874 ; R187,800 in 1870; R110,000 or so in 1860 and 1865; but only 1144,000 in 1850, Still the Colony cannot be accused of an increasing consumption, and if we only get cinchona alkaloid locally extracted and prepared for use in a private laboratory (such as has been recently spoken of) and if ipeoacuanha were cultivated and locally prepared for 118C. the Colony should save considerably on the sums mentioned and have two of the most valuable specifics for tropical diseases freely available. Acids were imported to the value of R7,790, a large proportion of which were used for the manufacture of mineral waters. Of these last, independent of the large quantities taken by the steamers which call here, we exported to India only R423 against 81,380 in 1886. It is somewhat atraugc that in a Colony where so good a means of light as coconut oil is cheap and plentiful, we should import :— Candles, epermaceti. atc. ... 812,431 Oils : Coconut, Colza, Fish, Kerosene, Lubricating and Vegetable ... 571,751 11587,185 Tallow autl grease 2241 — - — - Some years age wo asked :—" Might not the Ceylon Government eupy Mr. Gladstons in one particular ! Let light wines have a very moderate duty placed upon them, and let spirits be heavily taxed. This would lead to an increased con.smnption of the former (to the benefit of the. Government), and at devour* in the use of the latter (to the undoubted benefit. morally and phyaically, of the population of our Island)." We are glad to say this advice was adopted timing the Session of 1.854, when the duty on light wines was 1-ft untouched, while that on spirits was increased. 420 CURIOSITIES O1' THE CEYLON CUSTOMS,

This latter was for lubricating purposes, while linseed and vegetable ode which are not given separately are also turned to account in other ways than in lighting. Candles in 1874 figured for 854,000: eo that kerosene oil is quickly superseding this means of light. For in kerosene oil the increase is enormous, and the consumption goes on to the supercessiou even among natives of the local coconut oil, which the people find it is more profitable to sell for cap ,rt, or rather to dispose of the mite and copperah without tak.ng the trouble to make the nil. The import of kerosene oil was R23,250 in value in 1875 ; 11,135,000 in 1879 ; and 11412,600 last year, one-third from India (re•export or from Burin:di) and two-thirds from the United States, We now come to a series of articles which may fairly be deemed Leximies, Ana we venture to classify a rather incongruous variety under this head ;- Jewellery (chiefly from Europe and India) ... R77,3-12 Pearls and precious stones unset (chiefly from India) 137,184 Fancy articles ... ... ... 74,891 Images and statuettes ... ... ... 2,684 Clocks and watches ... •• • Perfumery ... ••• ... ... 34k1g Toys ... ..... ... 11:411095 Beads (chiefly from Europe and India) ... Crackers (Hongkong, Straits and India) ... 86,633 Total R437,258 The enormous increase in the last item (it was R17,200 in 1886) is no doubt due to the celebration of our Queen's Jubilee last year, and affords a clutrau• teristio indication of the loyalty of the inhabitants of Ceylon. We must mention, however, an export of "jewellery" amounting in 1887 to R4,250 of local manufacture, and again an export of "pearls and precious stones" aggregating 1128,690. But, of course, by far the greater portion of the pearls and gems taken away hem] the island, on the pereons of natives and iu the luggage of other passengers, are not entered at the Customs. We are dependent on Calcutta for a considerable supply of her jute products in the shape of "gunnies," bags for shipping "native" and low•claes plantstion coffee, and for packing cinnamon, as well us of (may sacks for plantation use, We give these and minor imports more or less allied ;- Gunnies R148,264 Twine 24,362 Fishermen's nets 4,853 11177,479 Brushes ... 5,299 The first three items practically all come India, and the figures indicate a large inereaie or 1 eviral of trade which had fallen off owing to short coffee crops. Gunnies and twine were imported in 1874 to the value of R122,207; in 1882 they were only R93,000 in value ; while in 1887 the value was R172,628, all of which was entered for home consumption. On the other hand, in a country so rich in fibres as is Ceylon, it seems bard that local manufactures should not supply all our requirements. But curiously enough, we find "gunnies and twines" R231,238 entered in our exports for last year, and nearly all to British India ! The explanation given to us is that these are packages of second•hand rice gunnies received from Bengal, sent to Southern India to oarry more rice across to Ceylon ! Among other minor imports, the subject of cross-entries, if we may "so say, which seem superfluous for a community such as ours, are the following :- Articles—jran Imports. Exports. To R. R. , Bags, le Baskets ( from India) 14,425 1,420 (U. K. India and Australia) Oreliella weed *(lndia ) ... 12,546 23,827 (U. K. and Belgium) Tortoiseshell (Maldives, Straits & India) 28,534 215 (U. K.) Horns of sorts (India) ... ... 2,553 65,480 (do) *Orehilla weed, orchella, orchal, or Braila (Ger. oraeille ; Fr. oraeille ; Ital. oricello, orcella ; Span. orchillai. A whitish lichen (" Lichen orcella"), found in the Isle of Portland, but that which is used is imported from the Canary and Cape de Verde Islands, Madeira, Barbary and the Levant. From it is obtained the archil, or orehal, of commerce, which yields a rich purple tincture, fugitive, indeed, but extremely beautiful. The preparation of orchids was lung a secret, known only to the Florentines and Iinllanders ; but it is now extensively manufactured in this country. On but is generall y =o'.1 in Lim or inks, but wino-Smog in that of moist pulp; it is extensively used by dyers, and.. in times of scarcity the weed or lichen has said ns high as R1,000 per ton.-21fartVlach. [Mr. Vincent in his Forest Report sari orebella weed is a lichen ("Roccella Montagnei") common on trees in stunted resat forest of dry zone, and is used for making litmus paper and for dyeing.]

CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS. 421

Articles-front Imports. Export*. To R R Skins of sorts (India & U. K.) ... 18,537 288,423* (U.K., India, Hamburg, ate.) Fullers' earth (India) ...... 21,029 - Bees-wax (U. K.,. India and Australia) 270 8,536 (U. K., India, Straits, (Cm) Felt (from U. Kingdom) ...... 3,893 - Rattan (India and Straits) ... 1,981 204 (India) Umbrellas(to U. K., China, IntlTii and Straits) ...... 124,473 -793 (India and Straits) Cowries & S hells (Maldives) ... 7,550 9,688 (India) Ivory (from U. K.) ...... - 1,867 Terra japonica or °mat (India) ... 35,558 530 (Maldives) Arrowroot (U. K.) ...... 1,716 100 (India) Mee (India) ...... 50,808 2,744 (to 'India and Maldives) Sago (India & Straits) ...... 81,188 552 (Maldives) salt (U. K. & India) ...... 10,138 1,018 (to India) Drummer* ...... 1,498 1,358 (India and U. K.) Pitch, Resin & Tar (U. K. and India) ... - - 3,849 451 (India and Maldives) Boats and Canoes (India) ... 3,898 65 (India) Bricks and Tiles (French & B. India & U. K.) ... ... 8,745 2,412 (India) Asphalte - ...907 - Stones, Building (U. K. and India) 11,736 3,378 (India) Olas (India) ...... 168 - The figures surely euggest in some cases openings for the extending of local industries to the supersession of imports ; in others, oar imports-of orehella weed and horns-are merely added to local shipments dispatched to Europe. Tortoiseshell is obtained from the Maldives chiefly, and from India and the Straits in almost equal proportions to add to the local supply used up in the manufacture of the combs of the Sinhalese and in uther articles of ornamimt. The importation of tortoiseshell, which had decreased from 1165,000 in 1860 and R67,000 in 1874 to R25,000 in 1878 and R32,000 in 1882, stood in 1887 at R28,584. We fe kr the article is getting scarcer or the demand slackening. Our export of hides and skins is chiefly to the United Kingdom, but a consi• derable quantity goes to India. where, we suppose, tanning has been more reduced to a business ; but with abnndanoe of material locally the course of this trade might be altered. We find that tanner's bark was exported in 1887 to the value of R1,195 to India. The import of fuller's earth from India is still very considerable : B24,481 in 1886 and R21,029 on value in 1887, and that may indicate an increased local manufacture of soap. The importation of this latter article however does not decrease, while the export last year equalled R6,655, manufactured in the colony. But strangely enough while we sent R62 worth of soap to India in 1887, we imported from the same country R50,406 of the same article I besides R31,200 from the United Kingdom. This is one of the anomalies of trade that ' no fellah' can understand. Our progress in the use (and local manufacture) of the great agency of cleanliness may be summed up as follows:- SOAP ;-Imported 1850=88,860 ; 1850 =- R20,230 • 1870=1150,430: 1875 = R85,570 ; 1880=1158, 460 ; 1884= R66, 392 ; 1886-R80,640 ; 1887 ----R97, 605. Now for the export of local manufacture, beginning with 1865=R7,500 ; 187116,857 ; 1875=R10,592; 1880=825,791 ; 1885=840,005 ; 1886=16,173 ; 1887=R6,655. * Hides and Skins. t Catmint (kate-shoo). n. [Cf. Cashoo.] (hem) A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia coedits, in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used both in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names Terra Japonica, Crack, Ca, ib r,8ce.-.11facCulinch. # flamer: A kind of indurated niteli or turpentine, Pawl-rig spontaneously from various trees iudigenons to most of the Indian islands. Different trees produce different species of resin which tun deoiguated according to their colour and consistence. One is called Lamar-Gala in Malay, or Doniar-solo iu Jaynn..s.,, which means hard or stony resin ; and another in common use, Danzar-Patekor white resin, which in softer. T119 trees which produce dinner yield it in amazing quantIty, and getier,illy without the necessity of making incisions. It exudes through the bark. and is either f and adhering to the trunk or brandies in large lumps or in masses on the ground under the trees. As them often grow near the sea-side, nr on the kinks of rivers, the is frequently floated tiny y, and collected in ilislant places as drift. IL is exported in large quantities to 'Bengal and u iliac, and is used for the purposes to which we apply pitch, but principally for the bottoms of ships. By previous arrangement almost any quantity may be procured at the low rate of j dollar per picul.-Crawford, East DO. Archip. won, i, p. 4:8; von. ii, p. 4,20. 422 CURIOSITIES OP THE CEYLON CUSTOMS,

While importing R270 worth of bees-wax, we exported R8,536 worth, and curiously enough we export over R1,200 of honey. A little euterprize on the part of our rural Sinhalese and Tamils ought to provide all the bees-wax required for domestic and other purposes. while honey might be much more plentiful in our local market than it is. Terra japonica or Cutch, (eateelle) was in 1874 imported to the value of 844,690, so that this article maintains its position. " Seeds and plants " figure in last year's imports for 8162,388, of which no less than R155.094 was from India (tea seed of course) ; while only R4,455 came from the United Kingdom, 112,023 from Australia, R250 from China, and 1{555 from the Straits. One of the largest importations iii peat years uuder this head took place so far back as 1850. when R24.000 worth of " seeds of sorts" were imported. In 1878 the value equalled 11116,805 ; in 1879 it was RI91,000. On the other hand there was exported last year, "seeds and plants.' to 1 value of R14,1374, besides "specimens illustrative of natural history " lle...-„ and "curiosities," if we may mention all these at the same time, 1118,017. ARMS and AMMUNITION were freely imported in 1867, thus :- Guns, single barrelled ... ... No. 631 =R9,015 , double „ .•• ••• •.• 221 6,600 Pistols, single , ••• ••• .• 16 120 „ double and Revolvers ... 69 ),,035 Rifls, single barelled ... ... 28 4,200 „ double 45 9,000 Cartridges, fuse, locks, caps, shots and 1 wadding... ... ... ... ....I 41,651 Gunpowder ... ... ... .. lb. 34,711 21,54e Blasting powder ... ... ,.. „ 60,01)11 30,00o Dynamite, Detonators, Sic. ... ... ... 26,005 We may add here :- Saltpetre ... ... 17,971 Brimstone ...... 1,624 Coal and coke ...... ... 3,971,542 Cement ...... ... 102,549 Marine Stores ... 22,237 We have heard it remarked that. the natives have of late years been purchasing guns and other fireartns rather too indiscriminately, and that it is probable the checking of the license to possess firearms is not properly attended to by the Police and other Government officials. The great increase in "Coal and Coke" is remarkable : 8288,700 in 1850, 111,473,200 in 1870, 112,205,390 in 1880, 113,924,634 in 1880, and an increase on this large item of nearly 1150,000 in 1887, the cause being, of course, the greatly increasing number of steamers coaling at Colombo. Of the long list of imports, we have now to refer to Ttanxa, or "Wood, as the Customs has it, of which we received in 1887 :- Dye (sandal and other sorts entirely from India) ... R4,407 Timber (nearly all from India, doubtless teak)... 99,406 R103,813 against a total export valued at about R364,938, and made up as follows :- Ebony (chiefly to China & United Kingdom) .., R101,597 Sapan (chiefly to United Kingdom, Trieste and Hamburg) ... ... ... ..• ... 49,326 Satin (to India & U. K.) ... 51,491 Woods of sorts (chiefly to India) 52,936 Halmilla (India) .... ..•... ... 14,787 Ironwood (India) ... ... ... 22,129 Teak, Palmyra, Arecannt, Ritul and other laths and rafters ... ... ... ... 54,778 Dyewood, &c. ... ... ••• 16,829 Sandalwood (to India) ... ... ... fi.i This shows a decrease on the return for 1886. when the export was equal to 1'417,8:10, but an increase on that for 1878, when it stood at 8310,000; in 1874 the export was 11350,000, and in the same year we imported timber to the value of 11200,000. No doubt the policy of stricter conservation of Crown forests is beginning to tell, " Wrecks" strangely enough are aimed as Imports, and figure for 1111,400, mainly from the United Kingdom. CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS. 423

THE EXPORT TRADE OF CEYLON FOR 1887. (Sec fig-sheets pages 414o-b and page 428/1.) We have already incidentally referred to several articles in the Export Ins, notably to timber and to a variety of minor headings. The Custom's Returns include about,' 240 Import headings against rather more than 200 under Exports, but a large number of the latter are for Re-exports of trilling amounts and of no local importance—incidental shipments to India of English goods in small quantities or return shipments home. The very first export entry is for R48,443 of " wearing apparel," half of which was scut to the United Kingdom, and of this 115,200 only is said to have been " the produce and manufacture" of the Colony. We are puzzled to understand under what circumstances Ceylon can be said to have manufactured even this amount for export except it bo. Military clothing ? Of " Arrapo,"* only 11718 worth was exported, " Choya rout or madder"{ sent to India in 1887 (only 1112i is better known, and was exported iu 1850 to a value of 115,7.10. Another article which might well be increased is Ginger, exported in 1887 to the value of 11,2,041, almost all of which was local produce : sn with Pepper, of which 81,324 worth left the island last year . Of °rubella weed 823,028 worth was sent to the United Kingdom and R800 ti Belgium, the whole of which Ceylon produced, Penai or domhanutst for India madu a value 6f 110,044, and tiallnutti are entered for 81,930, mostly Ceylon produce. "Furniture" manufactured in the Colony was sent sway worth 810,547, which is above the annual average export, to India, United Kingdom and Australia chiefly. Of " marmel water ",§ R1,352 (local produce or manufacture) was exported to India, while 11423 of stAawater and lemonade are entered for the same quarter. It is interesting to know that the value of "Shark fiee shipped to the Straits, India and China was no less than 813,978, all the produce of Ceylon, while 11263,364 of Fish dried and salted and fish fine and bones were sent in the same direction, but chiefly of Maldivian produce (119,407 only of Ceylon). This of course has to be placed against the large quantity (R1,464,509) imported. We exported in 1887 111,048 only of Salt to India. Cowries,'' and shells (chiefly Maldivian) were exported to India, &c., valued at 89,688, while Chanks, the produce of Ceylon, equalled 11115,408 in value, is shin double the average, although m 1865 the export was R76,880, and in 1882 8105,000. Ceylon Birds' feathers were exported to a value of 111,155, and edible birds' nests to China 111,450, while the sea-slug or Beche-de-rner, chiefly collected off our south-easteru coast Arappo a penile from IlluBti seed.L., Illupai trees, like Hargusa and Tamarind treos, gloss spontanomedy in jacfnu. The 11,...shy part of the fruit is not utilicel /Old is eaten by bats. The seeds which are either single or double ate covered with a hard shell. shelled the seeds era exposed to the sun like (3,1connt eopperah. and tel is extracted from them. This oil is generally used as lamp oil and also as a lubricating substance. To some extent. it is need also for culinary, purposes. if is supposed -to possess medical virtues in rlieUMIttit• diSeiM`,. Its palate Is • Arappo." A handful. of it 111.1Xed in at chatty of water with one or two times on being boiled serves fur bathing pnrposes. " Amni)" is largely ex- ported to the Malabar emist tram Jaffna. —,Tertml flit vine. v ahoy or Choy Root. —The roots of a small biennial, rawly triennial plant, the elders tmd ,101,1Iota, Nat. Order ff 7ucrrra, growing spontaneously in light, dry, sandy ground near the Au ; and extensively on the cuuvt of (Awe'Sltaelsi. Tice cultivated touts are very slender, and from 1 to 2 feet in length, with as few lateral fibres; but the wild aiT shorter, cod supposed to yicit one-fourth part more of colouring matter, and of it better quality. The root gives to yellow colour to cold, it reddish to hot water. which becomes bright red by alkalis. The basis of the dye is The roots are employed in dyeing the durable tells for which the Indian eotton yarns and chintzes have heon long famous, and Whiell ern only be equalled by the Turkey red. Chay root forms a conaiderahle article of export from Ceylon. Only a particular set of people are allowed to dig it It used to be all bought lip by Government, who paid the diggers a fixed price of 70 or SO rix-dollars a canny, and sold It for exportation at about 175 (Bertolacers p. '270.) This root has been imported into Europe, but with no success. Dr. Bancroft suspects it may be injured by the long voyage; but lie adds, that it can produce no etreet which may not be 1.1101, cheaply produced horn madder. It is a very bulky article, and is oon,eouently burdened with a very Insuvy freight. VOL ii. pp. 28241.4.30-31A,IA:Lj.o,-,,. The /h+leho',_ Sin.. Or Tsui., o re the fruits of the Calophyllum Inophyllrn, very eOreMOIL, and are said I o prouct. sO per cent. of their weight of oil. In the General Cemetery, Colombo, there is a large number of these tine-looking trees, which usually flower and produce fruit during the months of June and July, making quite an attractive display the green nuts hanging in clusters like bunches of grapes, and contrasting with the bright anti odurons flowers. '0 Manna Water was made by the Dutch from the flowers of the Marmelos ur Bael of India. Cowdes•—These are from s unival ve marine mollusk, small and wiLli a hard shell. They sic tied for counting and for elifidren's 1111/11ey or currency tu.,de, cowries arc money in Afrira and aro exported thither from these islands at sic mach a picul. This mollusk is the cdi ref.!, III014th6 of natal-elks, who, to designate it, Lars:: taken into amount its most common use,"—totivo,'0, CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS.

and shipped for Chinese and Indian use, equalled R17,44() in value. The trade in this artiole is steady : in 1878 the value was R85,000, against a previous average of R6,300. Chinese requirements have stimulated a trade in this article in the South Seas curl around the Australian coast, as may be judged from the following extract, which gives practical information worthy of the attention of Ceylon dialers:—" The Chinese are still as they have long been, the principal consumers of Reche-de.mer, and they have laid all the Eastern Seas, from Canton to Brisbane and from Mauritius to Hawaii, under contribution for supplies of the delicacy. The Beehe- de-mer is a large marine slug, so•called, of the species Ho/otharia, of a dark brown colour, possescil of eight or ten smell' feet, but with slight powers of Into-motion, and measuring sometimes as much as two feet in length and nix inches in width. There are several varieties of firgotbacla producing different qualities of trepang; the most highly prized kinds fetch nu much as 3'. per pound for the Chinese market."—"Valem Bark ," of which 900 ewt. (Ceylon produce) were sent ts India in 1887, %allied at 2 rupees a cwt. nominally, was described by Mr. Vincent as the bark of .dcaf:io. cm:op/area, exported from the N. Province for Indiau arrack distilleries. We have now cleared the way for our Exports of more general interest or importance, and first for tbosc which chiefly concern the natives. Let o -. sum up for instince the :urpin = produce of the Coco8ir Pai.m available fur export beyond the very large local consumption. We sent away in value in 1887:— Coconut oil 323,445 cwt., or 4,025,093 gal- lons valued at El per gallon (chiefly sent to India,U. Kingdom, U.S , & Con. Europe) 114,025,098 Coconuts (sent to U. K., India, Suez and Port Said, &c.) No, 10,044,329 ... ... 346, 745 Coconut shells (to India) ... ... 59,555 Copperah 136,346 cwt. (to France, U. K., India, &c.) ... .. .. ... 1,070,561 Coconut husks (America) ... 300 (.'ounce (to U. K.. Con. Europa and India) 2i-717 Arrack, coconut spirits (to India) 87,324 gal. 83,270 Coconut rafters and laths ... ... 18 Coir fibre (U.K., Australia, India, & Con. Europe) 22,918 cwt. ... ... ... 171,892 Coir rope (Straits, U. K., India, Australia, and other. countries) 9,431 cwt. .„ 117,888 Coir yarn (U. K., India, U. States, France, Australia, dre.) 69,679 cwt. ... 418,078 Coir manufactures ... ... 6,914 Cadjans ... ... 5 • Total ... R6,557,371 In round numbers we may say that the value of the coconut palm produce exported will now average 116,500,000. This is an en- Tmons increase, chiefly in Coconitt oil (superseded locally for lighting by kerosine) and in Copperah-- greatly used on the Continent of Europe now for feeding cattle—and Coir yarn, In 1882 the total export of the above aggregated only 84,303,141.

Against this let us put that of all the other PALMS in oar list :— Arecanuts (to India, the Maldives and Mauritius) 96,797 cwt..,. .„ R901,239 Arecanut laths (to India) 292 Fibre, Kitul (to U. K.) ... 27,483 Sugar, Jaggery (to India) 23,910 Palmyra and Kittul lathe and rafters (Iudi3) 52,803 Total...R1,005,727 The export last year of arecanuts, used with their betel by the of Southern India and by the coolies in Mauritius and the Alaldieiaus, is beloi the 'average ; the value for 1886' was R1,.34517. Can the demand in Iudia for Ceylon arecanuts be falling off; Let the European planier4 of thid polni inquire berme they go too tar.

CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS. 423

We have next to refer to CINNAMON and its Ons, the different ESSENTIAL . Oars, and SPICES, the export of which in 1887 in value may be summed up as follows :-- _ Cinnamon (to U.K., France, Italy, Hamburg, Australia, &c,) 2,0 t6,153 lb.... 81,023,076 Do Leaves (to the Maldives) ... 52 Do Oil (almost entirely to U. K.) ... 12,012 Do Leaf Oil (U. K., Hamburg, &r.) 5,136 Citronella Oil (to the U. K., U. States, Australia, India. and Japan) .,. .., 377,557 Essential Oil (to U. K.) ... ... 6,462 Vegetable Oils (India) 502 Spices (to India almost ent rely) ... ... 1,606 Ginger „, ,„ ,.. .,• 4.1 .14 2,041 Total...R1,429,341 FIBRES :--Aloe (to U. K.) . 8160 (besides Kitul Fibre already given, 1127,483.) Tomecco is an important export especially for the people of the Northern Province ; last year's return shews 8713,418 of manufactured and unmanufactured as cent away*, besides 8.1,833 of Ceylon cigars, against .a total of Tobacco amounting in value to R840,000 in 1878, and to over RI,100,000 in 1986. The operations of Europeon planters in Dinnbara, Mated() and Kurunegala districts, especially. may be expected to add to the export of this article. PLUMBAGD, our only mineral of impori ance, was shippe i in 1887 to the value of 112,385,997, Molding Bb0,000 of royalty or export duty. Two-thirds weti,t to the United States ; most of the rest to the United Kingdom, with small quantities to Holland, France, Hamburg, Belgium, Indar, Australia, &e. The foregoing Staple Exports may be considered to belong to the I: at,vea of Ceylon and the " loweouutry " more especially, and if we summarize the whole sod place the result in juxtaposition with the export of products derived from cultivation or industries within the mountain acne, the greater importance of the latter will very quickly be made apparent, at least so far as the Export Trade of the Colony is concerned. Thus we get :— Exported produce of Coconut Palm 116,557,371 Do do of other Palms ... 1,005,727 Do Cinnamon, Essential Oils, tee. ... 1,429,344 Do Tobacco ,„ .„ ... 715,251 Exports of Plumbago „. 2,385,997 Do Horns of sorts 65,480 Do Hides and Skins .. 266,423 Do Fibres ... 27,643 "• Do Timber, value of, not included in above (to U. K., India, China, Trieste, U. S., &c.) 301,175 Total 751, 411. Our NNW Pneurces Par cd..critritce now make an important appearance in our Ex port returns. But compared with the p: sition which " Coffee " used to hold, and even now holds among our exports, it is still the day of small things " with new products. Nevertheless in respect of tea, at least the preEent and each succeeding year will skew a great advance on the previous one. 1897 gave :- Cinchona Bark (to U. K., Italy, France, Hol- land., U. S. of America, Trieste and Ham. burg) 13,113,007 lb. ... 112,440,213 Tea (to U. K., Australia, Italy, France, Ham- burg, Mauritinq, 13,834,701 th. 8,300,703 Cocoa (to U. K., Franee, U, States, Italy, ece.) 8r8,079097 Cardamoms (to U. K,, India, U. Sta ea, Sie,) 416,451 Total... 811,095,470 Cinchona hark was probably rated below its true value, but the robin' is of interest as inclicatiug tl:c establishment of an important trade—only st doe lifteen scats old no may eay—which even last year wasas almost twice the value of that of cinnamon hark and essential oils. The lung-Established and far-famed Ceylon cimiamon bark trade is far outrivnlled by that of the comparatively 64.a 41,6 dUAIOSiTlES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS.

new expert of cinchona bark ! In 1882 the total value of the new preclude above given as exported was only 114 529,000 ; but cinchona bark alone amounting to 4,656,000 lb was valued at 83,850,000 in that year. Now however, althoUgh the quantity in 1887 increased. 10 ov. r 13 millions lb, the value has fallen to less than 2i millions rupees 1 COFFEE (plantation, native, Liberian, &c ) alone remains to be included in our review of the Exports for 1887, and its importance even last year, is clearly proclaimed by the following figures :- Coffee, Plantation (to U. K., Trieste and Australia chiefly) 165,263 cwt,... R10,742,134 Coffee, Native (to India, France, Italy, Australia, &c.) 13,290 cwt.... 691,585 Coffee, Liberian (to U. K., U. States, Australia and France) 3,419 mt.... 153,898 Total-181,981 cwt.... 811,587,617 New Products, as on page 425 ...... 811,995,470 Total...R23,583,087 Total Export Trade chiefly in native hands : Palms, Oils, Cinnamon, Tobacco, Plumbago, &c., detailed on page 425 :—R12,754,111. It will thus be seen that the Ceylon export trade in coffee and allied new products was in 1887 almost twice as valuable as that appertaining to lowconntry palms, to cinnamon, tobaceo, plumbago, &c. Hut this does not mean that we have here the ratio representing the importance respectively of these industries to the people of Ceylon. It must be remembered that by far the greater portion of the • produce of the coconut and other palms, as well as a great deal of the tobacco 0 grown, is consumed in the island, whereas all but an insignificant proportion of the coffee, tea, and cocoa produced is exported. The value of thdaannual produce of the coco palm alone in Ceylon is estimated to be nearly equal to that of coffee in its better days, or about 20 millions of rupees, with this difference that all but a tithe of the former is consumed by the 2i millions of people locally, while all but a tithe of the latter (coffee) is exported from the Island. In 1887 Coffee made up leas than one-third in value of the entire Export Trade in Ceylon Produce, which equalled 38 millions of rupees. How dillerent from 1875, when out of a total Export Trade in Ceylon Produce valued at 52 _ millions of rupees, coffee alone contributed over 45 millions of rupees I Here, again, we see how new and old Products, apart from coffee, have risen iu iin• portance : in 1875 the balance apart from coffee was only 7 millions of rupees. In 1887 the balance was 27 millions, of which the native exports specified made up 13 and " new products" 12 millions of rupees.

GATHERING VP THE FRAGMENTS. • There are a few headings of interest which have hitherto escaped notice, and which it may be as well to notice before finally laying aside the Customs Accounts of 1887. Beeswax was plentiful last year, about R8,500 worth being ex- ported, chiefly to the United Kingdom. Of horses as many as 446, valued at R211,809, were imported in 1887, and the following figures extracted from past Customs Returns are of some interest :— No. of No. of No. of Years. Horses Years. Horses Years. Horses imported, imported. imported. 1862 448 1871 565 ... 1880 231 1863 836 ... 1872 628 ... 1881 150 1864 658 ... 1873 580 1882 344 1865 710 ... 1874 632 ... 1883 257 1866 714 ... 1875 651 1884 452 1887 284 1876 532 1885 191 1868 398 ... 1877 613 ... 1886 189 1869 500 ... 1878 673 ... 1887 4413 1870 423 ... 1879 529 Total...12,687 The returns for different years are instructive : 1863 with its large import of horseflesh was the year the Colombo and Kandy railway was properly begun by Mr. Faviell, and a year which gave a surplus of £113,000 to the general revenue, After the financial crash in 1866, it was to be expected that the import of horses should fall off in 1867.8 ; and so again the small numbers imported in 1880 and 1881 tell their own tale, while. 1882 and notably 1884 show a revival of prosperity; as also does 1887, But CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS. 427 • what has become of the 12,687 horses imported into Ceylon during the 26 years We have no hesitation in saying that a large proportion has been bought and utilized lay natives and the people of the country generally. No more striking contrast can be seen in the streets of our towns now to those who remember their appearance twenty or more years ago, than in the large number of well-to-do natives who drive their own conveyances. Twenty years ago the number of people, other than European, who owned horses In Ceylon could be counted on the fingers of one hand. "Books and maps printed " locally and exported do not figure high at E782, but this does not include literature in the shape of newspapers or our monthly Tropical Agriculturist or Handbooks sent through the post. Locally-made carts and carriages were exported to the value of R3,663, or treble that of 1884. " Fancy articles," R4,349; and "Curiosities," 1116,352; " Specimens illustrative of Natural History," R255. Of minor products which ought to increase, Vanilla has fallen to the paltry sum of R310, but Dyewooda have risen to R16,829. More interesting is it to learn that we sent away last year 2,170 oxen to India, valued at R12,705. The most important item of export under live stock, however, is that of elephants, of which 58 were sent away last year, valued at 1126,600, or an average of 11460, all of which were sent to British India. The number of Elepha ate shipped from Ceylon year by year is of public interest. Under the head " Export Duties " a royalty of 11200 used to be recovered for each elephant exported. This law came into operation on the 8th July 1873. One or two years after this date, the exportation wits reduced from 83 elephants per annum to 3. Then during three pars only three elephants were exported. The royalty was then reduced to 11100 by proclama- tion sof 17th June 1882, and this has led to more business, more especially as there has sprung up a demand for Ceylon elephants for menageries on the Continent of Europe ; but the steady market seems to be for the supply of the Rajahs' court* in Southern and other parts of India. We append a list chewing the number exported for the years 1863 to 1887 :— - Elephants. No. No. exported. Value. exported. Value. 1863 173 ... 1128,690 1876 3 ... R1,000 1864 194 ... 45,920 1877 1 ... 500 1865 271 .. 72,660 1878 1 ... 500 1866 203 63,250 1879 1 ... 1,100 1867 148 ... 23,280 1880 12 ... 11,200 1868 167 ... 47,450 1881 8 ... 7,470 1869 199 ... 46,500 1882 25 ... 10,105 187%, 38 ... 8,050 1883 86 ... 40,010 1871 74 ... 17,600 1884 51 .. 2,100 1872 53 ... 22, 270 1885 17 ... 9,700 1873 83 ... 28,900 1886 50 ... 19,100 1874 77 ... 41,230 1887 58 26,600 1875 7 ... 3,500 Total... 2,000 ... 578,685 That Ceylon should have exported in 25 years no less than 2,000 elephants, or an average of 80 per annum, valued at more than half a million rupees, shows how plentiful the monarchs of our forests have been : the question is with a lessened export of late years whether their number is unduly increasing ; but we suspect that the greater number of planters and visitors nowadays anxious to kill "their elephant " while in Ceylon more than counterbalances the export deficiency. India and the Straits indente 1 on us for 11245 of roats andBhoes locally maae, and the former country also absorbed Ceylon Bricks and Tiles to the value of 112,412. " Cotton Wool" was exported, priecipally to Australia, of the value of 1120.662, and Honey equal to R1,127. Of Ceyloe-made Jewellery, Australia and United Kingdom purchased 114,250 worth, which is highly satisfactroy. Owing to the good management of the upcountry brewery we are rapidly coming to the front with our exports of Malt liquor, India talcrn -, Ceylon made beer to the value of R1C:S,646. "Medicine" of local manufacture to the pleasing amount of 1126,593 was exported, chiefly to America, and Ceylon gems said pearls were distributed over the world to the Lune of R27,670. As to " Provisions " we managed to send away 813,600 worth of our own make. •

In conclusion, by way of contrast, in 1875 the total value of Goods (Ceylon Produce) Exported was „ 01,725,56W of which Coffee nude up ... 4,5326,736

leaving for all other Exports only , , . ,„ 86,598,30, in 1887 the ease stood as follows — Goods (Ceylon Produce) Exported • ..8361,873,6358361,873,635 of which toffee made up ... ... 11,11V,P51

leaving for other Exports • Se ... 125,290,184 These figures are .eloquent enough to preach a sermon to ttae thoughtful observer, who may turn them over and reflect on all that they convey.- First of all, there is the reduction in our exports—the measure of the strength, if not of the weal h, of a a lony. Last year our total was about 30 per cent. lees than in 1875: hi other words (taking th': loyal Curitoms value, which ill much below the mai k) we had 1114,852,531 lees to receive from othercountries., The European coffee planters who got about 40,1,- millions of rupees for their produce in 1875, only got 11 millions last year for coffee ; whilst the owners of native coffee in 1887 only got 8691,586 against 41 millions in 1875 ! The satisfactory point is that instead of coffee being supreme above all the other exports put. together, as in 1875, last year coffee, while still No. 1, was hardly one-third the total of the other products', and the European planters alone had over 11 millions „- worth of other products. Altogether not of the 823,290,19.4 of Ceylon;: products other than coffee sent away last year, purely native articles of; production or trade make op 812,754,411, against 1111,995,470 the value of_ plantation new products is: tea, cinchona hark, cocoa, &c. We trust in a few years to see 40 to 50 million lb. of tea rent away, bringing us back to the palmiest days of our exrrt +rule in plantation produce. • STAPLE EXPORTS. (See also Tables (aL Flyskvet, pages 428a-b.) CIISTOMS RPMIENS BUM NIARIZED, GIVING THE AVRRACIES l'012 QUING.TIENNIAL NM ritom 1841. Cope. cwt. For 5 years ending 18468 the average annual export \VOA 54,872 do do du 140,220 do 1851 do do 315,049 do 1836 do do 411,204 do1861 do do 600,942 do 1866 do do 785,998 do 1871 do do 973,975 do 1876 do l do 1881 do do 796696,90295915,9102 do 1886 do do .314,705 1 do 1887 do do 181,909 Coconut Oil. gallons. 5 years ending 1841 the average annual export was 407,332 do 1S46 do do 4,010,328 do 1885 10 do do 377,217 do do do 959,468 do do do 1,234,115 do 13 8686 16 .: do do 1,555,431 do1871 do do . 1,653,460 • do 1876 do do 2,175,269- do 1881 do do 2,632,221 do 1886 do do 3,697,958 1 do 1887 do do 4,025,098 ea, rtivt. 5 years ending 1841 the average annual efdixoriort was 23,7S2 do 1846 do do 23,406 do 1851 do do 30,508 do do 43,750 1Vil do do 4440:514,5191 do 1866 do do do 1871 do 62,959 do 1876 do (lo 66,228 do 1881 do do 97,203 do 1886 do do 101,535 do 1887 do dos 102,107. 428 CURIOSITIES OF THE CEYLON CUSTOMS.

In conclusion,. by way of contrast, in 1875 the total value of Goods (Ceylon Produce) Exported was .. ... R51,725,568 of which Coffee made up ... 0,126.738 leaving for all other Exports only R6,598,30 In 1557 the case stood as follows t-- — Goode (Ceylon Produce) Exported 636,873,635 of which Coffee made up ... 11,582,F51 --- leaving for other Exports ... ... 1125,290,184 , These figures are eloquent enough to preach a sermon to the thoughtful observer, who may turn them over and reflect on all that they convey. First of all, there is the reduction in our exports—the measure of the strength, if not of the weal h; of a a Army. Last year our total was about 30 per cent. leis than in 1875 : in other words (taking th'r local CoStoms value, which is much below the may k) we had 1114,852,531 less to receive from other countries.. The European coffee planters who got about 401 millions of rupees for their produce in 1875, only got 11 millions last year for coffee ; whilst the owners of native coffee in 1887 only got 8691,580 against 4i millions in 1875 1 The satisfactory point is that instead of coffee being supreme above all the other exports put together, as in 1875, last year coffee, while still Kn. 1, was hardly one-third the total of the other products, and the Europvau planters alone had over 11 millions worth of other products. Altogether out of the 11125,290,1!4 of Ceylon prodncts other th.n coffee sent away last year, purely native articles or production or trade make lip 1112,754,411, against 1111,995,470 the value of plantation new products in tea, cinchona hark, cocoa, &c. We trust in a few years to see 40 to 50 million lb. of tea sent away, bringing us back to ay the pail-Meet days of our exp-trt trlde in plantation produce. STAPLE EXPORTS, (See also Tables a1 Flyeheet, pages 428a-b.) IN CUSTOMS RETURN'S SUMMARIZED, GIVING THE AVER:VIES FOR QM:QM:NUL PRPTOTA FROM 1841. Wee. owe, For 5 years ending 1841 the average annual export was 54,872 do 1846 do do 140,220 do 1851 do do 43152041:649 do 1856 do do do 1861 do do 600,942 do 1866 do do 785,998 do 1871 do do 973,975 do 1878 do do do 1881 do do 695,9027 do 1886 do do .314,705 1 do 1887 do do 181,909 Coconut Gil. gallons. 5 years ending 1841 the average annual export was 407,332 do 1848 do do 4,010,328 do 1851 do do 377,217 do 1856 do do • 959,468 do 1861 do do 1,234,115 do 1866 ; do do 1,555,431 do do do 1,655,460 do 18768 do do 2,175,269. do 11888618 do do 2,652,221 do do do 3,697,958 . 1 do 1887 do do 4,025,098 Coir. ewt. 5 years ending 1841 the average annual export was 25,782 do1846 do do 23,406 do 1831 do do 30,508 do 1856 do do 43, 750 do 1861 do do 40,109 do 1866 do 44,551 do 1871 r(d110:: (1°0 62,059 do 1876 do 66,228 do 18S1 do do 1886 do do 101,5366 do 1887 do doe . 102,167

STAPLE EXPORTS. 429

Cinnamon. lb. 5 years ending 1841 the average annual export was 452,039 do 1846 do do 530,311 do 1851 do do 565,237 do 1856 do do 755,276 do 1861 do do 807,687 do 1806 do do 825,529 do 1871 do do 1,838,132 do 1876 do do 1,264,962 do 1881 do do 1,570,465 do 1886 do do 2,195,587 1 do 1887 do do 2,046,153 Plullibayo. cwt. 5 years ending 1838, the average annual export was 5,009. 7 do 1843 do do 2,874 - do 1848 do do 14,047 do 1853 do do 16,580 do 1858 do do 17,978 do 1863 do do 47,508 do 1868 do do 73,476 do 1873 do do 149,337 _do 1878 do do 111,749 do 1883 do do 230,217 4 do 1887 do (1,3 214,796 Aft,i,tt may be well to include here the new products which have risen so rapidly fliportance Cinchona Bark. Hxport:-1869, 28 ounces ; 1871, 80 packaqes ; 1872. 11,547 lb. and 69 packages; 1873, 44,836 lb.; 1874, 40,354 lb.; 1875, 19,152 lb, ; 1876, 14,932 lb.; 1877, 72,127 lb.; 1878, 186,797 lb. ; 1879, 507,368 lb.; 1880, 1,161,18 lb.; 1881. 1,314,554 lb. ; 1882, 4,655,944 lb.; 1883, 7,489.005 lb.; 1884, 11,865,28Q lb. ; 1885, 13,736,171 lb. ; 1886, 14,675,663 lb.; 1887, 13,113,067 lb. Tea. Export :-1873, 23 lb. ; 1874, 492 lb. ; 1875, 1,438 lb„. 1870, 757 lb, ; 1877, 2,105 lb. ; 1878, 18,635 lb. •, 1879, 81,492 lb.; 1880, 162,575k lb.r 1881, 343,798 lb. •; 1882, 697,268 lb.; 1883, 1,665,768 lb. ; 1884, 2,392,973 lb, ; 1885, 4,372,722 lb. ; 1886, 7,849,888 lb.; 1887, 13,834,701 lb. Cocoa. Export :- 1877, nil ; 1878, 10 cwt. ; 1879, 42 cwt.; 1880, 121 cwt.; 1881, 283 cwt. ; 1882, 864 cwt.; 1883, :3,370 cwt.; 1881, 9,241 ewt.; 1885, 7,466 cwt. ; 1886, 13,056 cwt.; 1887, 17,460 cwt. Cardamoms. Export:-1875, 14,337 lb. ; 1876, 32 packages and 4,965 lb. ; 1877, 11 pac- kages and 11,108 lb.; 1878, 15,973 lb. ; 1879, 17,732 lb. ; 1880, 17,412 lb. •' 1881, 16,607 lb. ; 1882, 20,959 lb. ; 1883, 38,688 lb.; 1884,77,1.04 lb.; 1885, 184,142 lb. ; 1886, 238,947 lb. ; 1887, 384,015 lb.

STAPLE IMPORTS. (See also tables on Flysheet, pages 428a-b.) Wm THE AVERAGES FOR QUINQUEININIAL PERIODS FROM 1841. Rice. bushels. For 5 years ending 1841 the average annual import was 908,779 do 1846 do do 1,745,797 do 1851 do do 2,118,917 do 1856 do do 2,015,529 do 1861 do do 3,397,163 do 1866 do do 4,241,310 do 1871 do do 4,483,880 do 1876 do do 5,635,297 do 1881 do do 6,337,576 do 1886 do do 5,659,041 1 do 1887 do do 5,717,623 Salt Fish. ewt. 0 0 For 5 year.' rmding 1841 the average annual import was 8,209 do 1846 do do 18,207 do 1851 do do . 30,960 do 1856 do - do . 39,075

430 STAPLE IMPORTS.

Salt Fish-(Contiautod.) cwt. For 5 yearn ending 1861 the average annual import was 55,595 do 1866 do do 66,871 do 1871 do do 75,147 do 1876 do do ' 94,074 do 1881 do do 86,764 do 1888 do do 111,003 do 1887 do do 146,450 [The importation of Salt Fish chiefly for curries in the food of the people keeps up well; but we did hope the result of Mr. Ravonscroft's " Salt Fish•curing's experiments would have obviated the need for any importation. That hope is now not likely to be fulfilled ] Cotton Goode, For 5 years ending 1841 we imported an avenge annual value=,C166,086 do 1846 do do 190,156 do 1351 do do 191,116 do 1856 do do 256,120 do 1861 do do 512,215 do 1866 do do 739,775 do 1871 do do 817,470 do 1878 do do 854,245 do 1881 do do 598,343 do 1886 do do 461,120 1 do 1887 do do 483,688 [The great falling off in this trade since 1876 is what might be expected to follow the decrease in coffee exports and consequent scarcity of in among the masses. If as is expected a Cotton Factory is shortly to be es lished in Colombo, the importation of certain classes of cotton goods may he further interfered with.] Cotton Dutieg. Five years miffing 1854 the duty paid on Cotton goods averaged £10,758 do 1859 do do 16,854 do 1864 do do 21,913 do 1869 do do 27,119 do 1874 do do 27,714 do 1879 do do 25,099 do 1884 do do 22,837 Three years 1887 do do 21,089 [The revenue suffers in proportion to a reduced local consumption.] Cotton Re-erports. In the same way for the Re-export trade in Cotton goods to India :- Five years ending 1854 the average value reexported was £4,950 do 1859 do do 74,897 do 1864 do do 201,646 do 1869 do do 215,647 do 1874 do do 301,795 • do 1879 do do 231,951 do 1884 do do 88,329 Three years 1887 do do 41,127 [This shows the gradual collapse of a large business with Southern India of which Colombo was the entrep5t, before a network of railways and the abolition of the Indian Cotton Duties enabled the Madras merchants to oust competition from Ceylon.] Cattle. Number. Value. Five years ending 1841 the average annual import was- £13,540 do 1846 do - 16,582 do 1851 do 27,051 21,606 do 1856 do 11,524 23,469 • do 1861 do 10,569 24,367 do 1866 do 8,713 29,663 do 1871 do 8,153 49,582 do 1876 do 14,942 82,710 do 1881 do 18,897 75,993 do 1886 do 9,964 40,240 One do 1887 do 5,668 21,381 [The great falling-off in 1882-87 indioates lessened means on the part of sections of the people to buy butcher meat, and a great decrease in the demand , for cattle for transport purposes, owing to Railway Extension, &c,]

431a OUR FOOD SUPPLY. IMPORT, PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF RICE IN CEYLON. As an evidence that local depression is at an end, during the past year the im- portation of rice from India to Ceylon has continued at a rate considerably above the average of the-previous three years. We append detailed tables for Colombo covering 11 years and Galle 11 years up to3lst December last and oho wiug the ports from which we receive cargoes of grain. The maximum importation was reached lir 1877, when 2,343,871 bags were landed at Colombo and 262,911 at Galle. Last year the figures were 1,89.2,880 and 270,839 bags=a total of 2,163,719. Bags of rice average 2i bushels—except Rangoon bags, which held 3 bushels— so the 2,163,719 bags imported into Colombo and Gallo in 1387 will equal • $,679,762 bushels and as 159,761 bushels wera exported, the quantity received at Jaffna and other outports may be taken at 350,631 bushels and yet the total for the island was in 1887 over ow million bushels less than in 1877. It will be observed that Southern India had begun (in 1884) again to supply the major portion of rice, although previously (with the one exception of 1880) Northern India had, since the Madras Famine, supplied us with the greater part of our foreign supply of rice Z1 .1 0cl1 • • cc • • ,08 • I 70' L... P.: 01 1m ' g m CN1 .: t . 2 2 4 8 1 L'a ,..... 4r•-■ Ft0 42 42 SI, . • CA8 8GO :-.2 .r...... ,- ce csi' i : : : ',,l• ..:: 0) *-, G` I /..1 1-1 C•J Et- .C.0 . Q- ,..,,i tr4 mi. h 14 c■ 14 0 1,4 m.1,h. ,x.,"T. - 1,..- -0.7 ,--1, o-4 vp - ei. • ?. ,, § ,.... ,..6, _T. .-, :• • ,-,,i, .-ca i ! : i i i i 1 4 /-1 ..i..0 ,..a.C,1 ca • .4. ...7 I co G ..cr, tO t P: 0 ...CP.., IN. • .0I 8 R '"-,f'1' '1 i■ R -r . . . 0, ..,g 1--1 CII .:- - , . ■.CC', Q cN.., C51.... L-..- N. c gt .vP(4 ■-•1 CS° ' S.S "tc.^, ::, ....1 ...I !aDqo ga .2- g x" 4, 1-1 .R. CD ,I 0 r-.I el* et a q ; :g lz; • ; ; : : . aq i i 04 n g..1:-. '4 1-- c::,4 crs c.. 0 " ,`:.' ■.€. ,9 al " C.J 4 '' 4 g g f, R F-1 a O.1 I-11 4 2 8 cct. CZ COa r.

s .#, S i-94 La- °o CI • 1.-.. 0.,-4 4 4 4 I 0z, CO C": ..r. co ,-.1 .:, to1-1 a. . ... • 0 go R •-i". .7, .. . '1' 0'4"'-' '*" CT . ,--1 ti r 4,, Cl cc ,, t•-• s 4 g ez, 1.1.4 8 S 2 ,cry C'PO ,4 - ,0- --,e, -.,g • • •:-... 01 ,_,... • : :• • -; .. .. Sac,. „In C 2 ±-5, 0 t.01 :2 g Pt 9 ?4. d "7- 4' 5 LIJ t) .4.1= ° w -- TICr' F4 L.7 -4 `F-1 n•I PI 1E1 431d FOOD SUPPLY, If we could believe the official statistics of local production in the Blue Book, and counting each bushel of paddy always as equal to two-thirds of a bushel of rice, the total consumption would be made up as follows :- LOCAL PRODUCTION OV GRAIN. 1 1D'r0oYED• TOTAL OF RICE CON- Paddy converted S1JMPTION4 Year. Paddy&FineGrain.=' Rice. into Rice.t

Bushels, Ifsrshifs, I I;vplerba. Boakefs. DuRlael.4. Bushel,y. Bushel.:. 1866 6,841,225: 733,1335,293,95 3,765,716 622,072 = 114,714 9,474,380 1867 6,522,345' 921,244.'5,269, 474 4,542,51 4 741,849 494,565 10,306,554 1868 6,339,192 910,576'5,136,70 1,349,553 1,003,995 669,324 10,155,581 1869 5,612,830; 833,3034,575,1 1,425,719 731,131 487,421 9,488,330 1870 7,135,041- 663,7885,420,483 4,655,103 795,113 530,742 10,616,328 1871 6,297,054. 710,822 4,908,859 4,383,227 709,903 472,602 9,764,687 1872 6.478,991 703,123 5,022,45 5,319,489 851,209 574,196 10,916,128 1873 5,905,553 981,3214,918,360 5,718,105 984,513 656,342 11,292,808 1874 6,623,286 850,103 5,265,032 5,444,395 990,802 660,502 11,370,529 1875 7,615,660 1333.507 5,710,018 5,377,735 1,055,126 703,417 11,791,820 1675 7,895,245 642,6795,906,176 5,744,531 736,848 491,232 12,141,939 1877.§ 7,895.245 612, 079 5,906,176 6,572,104 790, 0S5 526,723 13,005,003 1878 9,995, 205'1, 440,56q 3,097,503 6,588,795 798,463 532,312 15,216,610 1879 9,751,4431,216,253'7,717,216 5,395,414 1,45'71,062 972,041 14,584,971 1830 7,810,673 2,662,119 7,869,234 5,002,037 1,011,958 676,639 14,517;610 1881 7,273,172 1,553,530 6,402,5100 5,943,579 1,122 433 743,289 13,091,378 1882 11,458,017 1,778,765 9,417,441 5,073,138 805 695 587,130 15,627,712 1883 8,130,908 1,476,146 0,896,984 896,'984 5,600,050 544,254 362,835 12,919,770 1884 7,838,281 1,095,8996,321,419 5,430,597 081.950 454,033 12,206,649 1883 5,912,871 790,803 4,732,717 5,780,675' 1,011,576 694,384 11,207,776 1886 9,231,384 938,136 7,092,692 5,492,106 827,114 551,41f 13,135,268 Our maximum import was reached in 1877 and 1878, in each of which years, nearly 6,600,000 bushels were purchased, to feed a population largely but tern. porarily increased by thousands of famine-stricken Tamils from Southern Next year, 1879, the consumption of imported rice fell off by 700,000 bushels, while in 1880 it was only a trifle over the six million bushels, and since then the import has been steadily down, until in 1886 we got less than 5-1- million bushels. or about the same as in 1874-5. The utmost economy has beeu practised on plantations, where a decreasing labour force has been of late years employed and fed ; but the requirements for the extending cultivatiou of new products, especially tea, and the labour required for extending our railway system, will keep the demand steady until it very soon now begins with returaim2 prosperity to mount up again ; for as regards local production, there seems little hope of this serving, at least for a long time, to supersede the imports of grain : even the rich Matara district, for which so much has been done in irrigation works, not yet producing enough for its intcrual wants ; Brvticalort, however, in good seasons, does a little more, exporting some grain to Jalia. Everybody who knows anything of the two countries agrees that the people of Ceylon are better off in food supply than their neighbours in India; nearly two- thirds of our population must be dependent on locally-produced grain, and although they consume much less rice than the remaining third (who eat imported grain only), having fruits, vegetables and roots in abundance, to feed on as well, yet their total consumption of rice is evidently in excess of the quantity imported. Collateral proof of local production being above the official estimates we may find in the Government statistics of cultivation, although these are far from trustworthy. Still the provincial reports give 605,181 acres being cultivated with paddy and 131,230 with other grain in 1580. The yield of grain is poor in Ceylon ; but according to Sir Charles Layard's opinion, and he is no mean authority, the average for the country cannot be under 20 bushels per-acre per annum, which would give us last year over 8 million bushels of clean rice and over two and a-half million more for other grain. It muet be remembered that * Paddy to rico in the proportion of 3 bushels to 2. t Paddy (rice in the husk) imported at Colombo is chiefly used for horse food, but in the Northern Province it is introduced and converted into rice, for human consum. tion at the rate of 2 bushels of paddy to one of clean rice in bulk, but iu weight 1 bushel paddy is equal to two-thirds of a bushel of rice. t Total of 4th, 6th and 7th columns. § Return of production not published for this year, found to be defective, and so we have taken the same figures as in 1876, FOOD SUPPLY. 4318

the locally grown rioe, especially the hill paddy, is much more nutritious than the imported grain. We feel that the average local production must now be nearer 9 than 6 to 7 millions of bushels, which added to imports would give 14 to ]5 million bushels for a population of three millions, or about 5 bushels per annum for each man, woman, and child in the country. The rate for an able- bntlie.I cooly in full work on a coffee plantation is a bushel of rice a month, but this is where very little if any other food is used, and it is never all consumed by one person, while we also know that the settled inhabitants of Ceylon, both Sinhalese and Tamils, feed largely on the untaxed produce of the coconut, palmyra, kitul and areca palms, on sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, -manioc, tapioca, on sugarcane, plantains, oranges, pineapples,j jak fruits, breadfruits, mangoes, coffee, peas, beans, drumsticks and other vegetables, as well as other grain of which the tax collector takes no cognizance.' It will therefore be seen that an average consumption of five bushels of rice per annum per head of our population, in addition to all our fruit, vegetable and root productions specified above, would afford an ample guarantee that the vast bulk of the resident Sinhalese and Tamil people are exceedingly well provided for. This is not the case, however, in every district of the island, for one part, such as Batticaloa, may have a surplus of grain ready to transport elsewhere, while in others, such as some parts of the North.Westeru Province, the people may have barely enough of grain to keep body and soul together, and in- deed they sometimes die of insufficient nutrition when fever comes, some deaths being returned as due to starvation. Of course it would be more satisfactory it we could grow all the rice we require, but this is not likely to be the case. Ceylon cannot possibly compete with the rich alluvial rice-growing plains of Southern India, Bengal and Burma. It can, however, produce the finest tea, cinna- mon, cocoa or cacao, cinchona bark, coffee (including Liberian), and coconuts, as well as tobacco, the produce of the palmyra and areka palms, and numerous other products profitably, and it is in accordance with the dictates of common sense as well as with the first principles of political economy for colonists and a large proportion of the Ceylonese to turn their attention to the products— coconuts, tea, cacao, areca, tobacco—that they tind meet remunerative, and so to buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest mark et. Ceylou over a great portion of its occupied and more populous area is decidedly a leaf, fruit and root, rather than a grain growing country. The revenue in 1886 from Grain Taxes was as follows :- Import Duty (29 cents per bushel) on rice Stc. valued at R8•25 per bushel R1,771,298t Pent, excise or Paddy tithe (Land Revenue) ... 1,068,227$ 82,837,560 In connection with local GRAIN CULTIVATION, the following table is of interest :- Statement showing the number of Months required to bring each de- scription of Fine Crain and Paddy to maturity. PADDY. No. of FINE GRAIN. No. of Name. Months. Name. Months.

Kellen Dahanella Badde /moo ... ... 4" a Soodoo Kotyaran Mendirye ... ... t1 Rattu Dahawalla Soodoo Dahanella — — IS Soodoo do ... Rattoo 'Paella ... PI Naha Mawee Godde Rawella ... ••• IP Kooreowee Krilloo Tanna ... ••• ". 1,., Tattoowea Godde Koorowa ... •.• 4

Kaloo Katyaram Koorookan... ... Pt Hirnity Lonna — .-- -- Ralloo Llinity Soodoo Elwee .,. ... •.• 17.;

Hondrallawa Rat Tell or Score* Wee... Pt

Soodoo do. Kittool Plate] ... ... ... i) Seerroewee... •.. Uodde Hondrawella ... ... 8 Masco Kai loo Kcomaraya ,, Rama) Day weraiith Ebree ... . •••• ••• ..• ,* ,}moo ... •.. ... lImidoon Kottam ... .4 7 Mee Patell ... ... ..• .11. NI

■ * Including "fine" or " dry" grains (millets, pulses, &c.): the Civil Servants report L that a much larger quantity is grown titan has ever appeared in any official return. f Includes revenue from all grain imported. , 1 includes revenue from fine grain, gardens and tithes redeemed.

- 4131f FOOD SUPPLY. We have now oompiled from the Blue Book the return of "Plantation ' and " Garden " Produce, and of Live Stook for each Province as follows :- RETURN OF PLANTATION AND GARDEN PRODUCE IN 1888. Coffee Cocoa Cia-nn Cotton Tea PRO viNcE. cwt. lb. mon lb. lb. lb. Western 4,804 22,73,i 1,308,305 280 8,990,888 North-Western ._ 737,203 1,212,100 _ Southern -. 3,700 - 52,200 - 790,000 Uva 267,74 3 721 2,470 - 41,093 14orth-Central - - - Eastern - - - Northern -. - - 15,676 Central 285,405 1,045,269 6,460 2,500 4,534,360 Totals ... 1,298,920 2,281,120 1,359,135 18,4543 14,362,841

Coconuts Palmyra Carda- Cinc'iona Paovixeu, Tobacco Suga- Fruit monis lb. cwt. No. No. lb. lb.

Western ... .. 70,231 - * 6,000 - North-Western ... 1,481,650 - 121,228,070 240,000 - - Southern ...... 2,585 5,660 178,000,000 - - - Uva ... 896 - 229,968 - - - North-Central ... 1,600 - 1,302,000 - - - Eastern ...... 290,290 - 36,405,330 447,025 - - Northern ...... 3,723,390 - 11,439,491 - - - Central ...... 13,100 - 8,035,004 , 56,300 180,000 10,000,0i 0 Totals ... 5,589,742 5,000 : 3.57,240,4139 749,525 180,000 .., 10,000,000 NUMBER OF STOCK.

Black PROVINCE. Sheep. Goats. Horses. Cattle. Buffaloes. Western ... 4 955 9,892 2,003 126,631 55,550 North-Western 875 16,392 192 144,009 107,758 Southern ... 63 3,438 339 66,065 37,928 TJva 363 2,858 208 27,995 14,724 North-Central 2 2,158 108 28,670 43,455 Eastern ... 845 4,920 187 31,140 26,963 Northern ...... 49,396 49,826 198 109,950 25,531 Central ... 2,010 7,083 888 48,288 39,779 58,509 90,567 4,073 582,748 351,688

These figures we need scarcely say are mere guesswork, and in many eases entirely untrustworthy. Cinnamon to the extent of 2,365,038 lb. was exported in 1880, whereas only about half that amount is returned as having been produced here. Sugar also we exported beyoad the amount returned as grown, and Cardamoms and Cinchona Bark show like results. In regard to Coconuts, it will he seen that the return for the Western Province only gives the number of tre.? .cultivated. This.multiplied by 30, as an avelaAv yearly bearing of nuts per tree for the Western Province, gives the satisfactory total of 590,001,000 nuts, wh:ch added to the outturn of the other provinces of the Island gives us the grand total of 953,241,419, figures probably more near the actual production than have ev..r before been given in these Blue Book returns. But see introductory "Agricultural Review " in this volume, for more accurate information on this point, * 19,866,700 trees.

TRADE OF CEYLON. 4318 The aggregate VALUE of our TRADE and the DUTIES collected both

nn IXPoars and EXPORTS from 1860 to 1887 Inclusive are as follows :- Value of Trade. Import and Export Duties collected, Years. including Port Pees, fie. £ £ 1860 ( Imports 3,551,000) , ( Imports duties. 184,0001 £244 0c,„ t Exports 2,551,000 26 109' -,‘"'" AA / Exports do. 40,000 5 - ' "" 1861 f Imports 3,664,001)1 4., 370,000 S. Imports do. 200,200 ? 2.)41 1 Exports 2,706,000 5 ."--', " S. Exports do. 40,500 j - '000 186,„ c Imports 4,243,000 / 4.6 737 00A c Imports do. 203,200 / - /, Exports 2,404,000 5 '"" " ' " Z Export-I do, 3800 £-441 ' 500 1863 Imports 5,434,000 Imports do. 238,500 [ Exports 3,587,000 1 E9,021,000 I Exports do. 61,700 £290,200 ,..„, Imports 5,527,000 1 4.80%000 ( Imports do 230,500 £280,400 '''''''' Exports 3,112,009 ""' / Exports do. 41,900 r I mwrts 5,022000, (z Imports do. 247,000 £301,700 1865 t Exports 8,665.000 £8,587,000 Exports do. 54,700 o„ I Imports 4,961,001 / £8 547 514 ( Imports do, 228,200 j £282282,500 500 1999 /Exports 3,586,453 " 1 Exports do. 54,3005 £ 4,504,3381 4.8 A31 50, Imports do. 238,4000 4,205 600 1867 {Exports 3,530,224( ''"' '" ' ' 1 Exports do, 57,200f "' , „,„ { Imports 4,403,177 1 4.8 180 89Q (Intports do, 227,3000 £290 500 1'99 1 Exports 3,786,721 f *'" ' , 9 1 Exports do 03,200 f ' aAo j Imports 4,635,003 t £3 200 088 i Imports do. 240,6000 pgad, KAA 1 ' I Exports 3,031,205 i t " Exports do' 58,900 { '''`'9"" (Imports 4,631,737 / £8,433,028 I Imports do. 257,3231 2257,323 1870 1 Exports 3,803,951 , r Imports 4,797,8521 £8 ,430 „ o .., 18,1 /., Exports 3,034,523 j va {Imports do. 252,939 2252,989 ,,,,, , j Imports 5,169,524 " - Exports 3.139,0608 3081 " 584 { imports do. 236,249 1E2813,249 wyq Imports 5,574,308 £11013,949 1 Imports do. 303,684 i £303,681 "' I Exports 5,419,501 1874 Imports 5,691,880 ) 210,379,249 Imports do. 292,006 Exports 4,687,359 Exports do. 4,721 2296,727 1 a7g, I Imports 5,718,675 £11453 425 Imp 'As do. 29'3,773 £299,384 ."' " 1 Exports 5,733,74') ' "' Exports do. 5,611 Imports 5,933,733 210 743 9-8 30515581 £310,019 1-876 iExports 4,810,265 ,. , , Exports do. 1,„ Imports 6,278,357 £12,300421 Imports do. 84?,,a3 £345,392 9' ' Exports 8,112,074 E ports do, 5 Imrtpo s 5312918 1 g 10045991,, Imp ,rts do 316,751 1878 t Exports 4,,731,, 053 i Exports do,. 2,154 £318'905 1870 5 Imports 5,347.60 ? 210,656,397 i /E o, 301,040 ' " / Exports 5,291,687 .0 mportaxports ddo. 4,062 £305,108 1880 f Imports 5,347,713 210 406 503 f Imports do, 291,956 £297,340 ''' / Exports 5,058,790 " 1 Exports do. 1881 f Imports 4,712,169 i 4.8,3qi,imet I Imports do. 286,811)6,658 £293,469 1 Exports 3,618,864 5 " " " " 1 Exports do. i Imports 4,662,362 / 28,300,905 r Imports do. 268,151 x386,768 1882 1 Exports 3,638,543 t Exports do. *18,618 10_,,,a r Imports 4,830,580 1 Imports do. 267,871 £27,767 """" Exports 3,552,960 28,383,540 Exports do. 1-9,896 1,a,,,, I Imports 5,132,214 J_ Imports do, 275,419 02,3,463 £8,501,227 ''''''" 1 Exports 8,872,013 J r---- -"'' Exports do. '18,044 '''' 9 ‘„ r Imports 4,513,234 28 091 474 [ Imports do. 281,454 £200,236 1,„"9 / Exports 3,578,240 ' ' Exports do. § 8,781 )) Imports 4,785,579 ,,,,,.., ....„ 1 Imports do. 284,690 ) £204,340 1836 i0 Exports 3,489,980 ''' -",a'" Exports do. 9,650 1887 f Imports 5,031,214 £9 033 101 l Impartsp dodo. 307,985 / £3 ,- Exports 4,001,887 ' ' Exports do. or 9,902' 1 i.887

* 1882 :-Rent 2774; Port Dues 211,340; Royalty Plumbago 26,504. 1883 :-Rent £739; Port Dues £2,588; Royalty Plumbago £6,569. I 1884 :-Rent £470; Port Dues £3,009; Royalty P lumbago 24,560. § 1885 :-Ront £512; Port Duos 23,:359; Royalty Plumbago it4,910. 1886 :-Rent £573; Port Dues £3,033; Royalty !'lumbago £6,044. 1887 :-Rent 2786; Port Duos £3,151; Royalty Plumbago £5,905. INY' For Notes, see top of next page.

43111 TRADE OF CEYLON. ticotes to Table on previous page.")

Port Clear- 1860 1870. 1872. 1873. 1875, 1876. 1877. 1878, 1879. tutees £5,701 £5,444 £7,227 £7,720 £8,431 £8,937 £9,604£9,247 £9,520 Boats and Moorings 205 123 283 605 152 153 191 119 112 Pilotage ... 1,500 1,771 2,187 2,004 2,116 2,098 2,590 2,471 2,454 Total ... £7,496 £8,338 £9,697 £10,3211 £10,699 £11,1S8 12,355 11,837 12,095 1 Port Clear- 1880. 1851. 1582. 1853. 1884, 1885. 1889. ances ... £9,888 £10,460 £11,366 £9.605 £3,004 £3,385 £3,044 Boats and Moorings 145 1,498 318 221 110 137 180 Pilotage ... 3,078 2,784 4,994 4,371 4,323 4,224 4,283 Total ... 13,111 14,742 15,978 7,197 7,437 7,717 7,507

THE GOODS TRADE OF CEYLON. The value of the trade of Ceylon for the bet four years excluding specie i- Lit PORTS, EXPORTS. 7.884 ... 1143,984,350 ...... 1138,508,289 1895 ,., 40,789,319 ... 33,844,125 1885 ... 92,705,187 ...... 33,630,109 1887 ... 45,534,904 ... • " ••• 88,354,967 1887 ; Imports-Total ... R50,312,137 1887; Exports-Total ... R40,0113,870 Off specie ... 4,777,533 Of specie • ., 1,883,003 . * 1145,534,604 1888,354,067

COTTON GOODS TRADE WITH CEYLON FOR THREE YEARS. CoLosiBo, CEYLON :-IMPORTS COTTON GOODS AM 12 MONTHS-1885.7. 12 Months 1887 12 months 1886 12 months 1885 :0, A 0 1.1 0 ..-1,i,.'- 0 , Pneksges „54 0:?5 "g 'eq. 1 -g Q i. 3 ...11 NI -4 11 tgi g, E, . :41E1 = a ‘1 7 ,.., 11„, rl E rfINni ' E-,a -WI: F4 E-I Grey Cottons .., 1785 127 1915 1408 222 1031 1831 384 2215 White •, ••• 411 24 475 336 29 365 445 64 509 Prilded „ .., 5u3 - 503 267 1 288 • 416 - 410 D ied 77 - 77 29 - 29 86 - 86 Colored, w Qv en 287 1 238 367 9 310- 233 . 1 oat Sundry,„ ... 351 4 355 319 11 -t0-0 367 6 313 Yarns, plain ... 36 30 72 8 27 112 53 12 f35 Yarns, dyed ... 73 32 165 111 199 75 47 322 Whiskey, cam! 4225 25 4251 ------_

THE CEYLON STAPLE EXPORT TRADE. ESTIMATES OP STAPLE EXPORTS FOR SEASON 1887-88. (Revised Morel 1889.)

Eriucwt Season, let October , 1887 to 30th September 18'88, TEA-probable shipments •.• ... lb. 23,000,000 COFFEE do do • - ... cwt. 155,000 Cocoa. (chocolate tree beans) do. ... cot. 13,000 C ENCI1ONA BARE...... lb. 10,000,000 COCONUT OIL 1.1.2 ■•• cwt. 31ro,o00 CINNAMON ... lb. 2,00o,000 • CARDAMOMS .„ lb. 300,000 PLUMBACIO ...... cwt. 210,000 Our estimate' of the tea exports, like that of everybody else, nearly, is chiefly based on the figures worked out by Mr. itutherRord, why makes the total 22,308090 lb,

EX PORT TRADE. 4311

Detailed Estimates for the Current Season's Exports :- Stasis 1887-8.-Frobabl6 Shipment of Staple Eaportt. Quantity. Value. Tea, ... ... .„ 23,000,000 lb. at 60 cents R13,800,000 Coffee ... .. ... 155,000 cwt. at R55 8,525,000 Cinchona Bark ... ... 10,000,000 lb, at 20 cents 2,000,000 Cocoa ... ... ,.. 13,000 cwt. at 1148 624,000 Cardamoms .,. ... ... 300,000 lb. at 80 cents 240,000 Coconut Oil ... .. ... 300,000 cwt. at 1114 4,200,000 Do. Copra ... ... 150,000 cwt. at 117.50 1,125,000 Coconut Pounac ... ••. ... 50,000 cwt. at R4 200,000 Coconuts ... ... ... 12,000,000 No. at 2,i cents 300,000 Cinnamon , ... ... ... 1,500,000 lb. at 50 cents 750,000 Do. chips ... .. ... 500,000 lb. at 18 cents 90,000 Plumbago - ... .,. 210,000 cwt R7 1,170,000 Coir of all kinds ... ... 110,000 cwt. at R8i 935,00U Ebony ... 20,000 cwt. at 115 100,000 Deer Horns ... 2,000 cwt. at 1140 80,000 Sapan Wood ... "0 ... 4,500 cwt. at 1130 135,000 Kitul Fibre . ... •.. ... 1,800 cwt. at 1135 63,000 Orchella Weed .,, .,. 1,000 cwt. at R50 80,000 Essential" Oils ... 11" ••• 10,000,000 or. at 5 oents 500,000 Tobacco ••• ... 50,000 cwt. at It,80 1,500,000 Total,..R36,787,000

COLOMBO TEA SALES.

SEASON 1885.81 SEASON 1886-87. Offered, Sold. Offered. Sold. pkgs. lb. pkgs_ lb. pkgs. lb. pl.; gs. lb . Forbes & Walker 13513 831300 12220 746985 159 1 1 952040 13614 b11167 8, 'me r cilia & Co.... 5897 331821. 4300 239570 8502 512487 5651 343117 .1. D. Robinson & Co. 3116 222912 2611 181501 8655 104195 2085 155777 1;',..1-(111IL ... 1272 79323 888 57618 2516 1110210 1720 137430 Wilson & Co ... 1092 6 1712 747 38615 2777 178702 2183 139086 C. E. II. Symons ... ... 500 26568 260 13415 - ---- •------24,820 1,530,268 20,784 1,267,298 33,801 2,054,202 26,453 1,6116,031

AVERAGE PRICES FOR CEYLON TEA IN LONDON. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1 1885. 1886. 1887. January 1/2' 1/3 1/2 1 July 1'3' 1; 11 February 1"2 1/3 1/13 August 1134- 1.'07. 1/0 March 1/3 1/2k 1/14 September 1/4 1/1i 1/1* April 1 •31 1/1 1/1'- October , ...... 1/41 1/2a 1j21 May 1/1 1/1. 1/1 November 1/4 1/3 1/21 June 1j3 1/ 1/0 December ...... 1/31 1/2± 1101

YEARLY AVERAGES. 1884 114 per lb. I 1886 .•. 1/1 per lb. 1885 ... 1/31 sz l 1887 ... vol „

EXPORTS OP LIBERIAN COFFEE FROM CEYLON.

1887. 1686. 185.8 1884. 1883. 1882. 1881. cwt, cwt. ewt. cwt. cwt, cwt. cwt. To United Kingdom 2,958 2751 81.148 2,639 491 7 79 „ Australia ... - 37 32 246 - 60 33 „ France ... .. 25 91 1,029 165 - „ U. States of America 358 2472: 1'916610 430 307 1,038 130 Total : cwt. 8,410* 8,854+ 5,326 3,412 1,827 1,270 242

- - * British India 24 cwt; Italy 49 cwt ; Belgium 4 cwt. t Italy 205 cwt ; Mauritius 0 cwt ; British India 35 cwt, To Holland 10 cwt; British India 2i awl; Mandato 4 cwt.

L

ob.0., ,.._ ''.• 4 .-13 0 .-1 Cr IMPORTS, DELIVERIES, ,_, nom. .z..- vureil

1886 1895 1894 •!:?: Isar = <1 Delivery Stock 4. t.1 /Oath Import Delivery SW, k Import Delivery Stock Import Delivery Stock Import . ..t ..,0,2, 228,000 980,000 144,000 139,000 550,000 ..., .., ..vi ...., January ;79,000 535,000 1,701,000 285,000 6.1 0 tri February 713,000 496,000 1,992,000 394,000 235,000 1,130,000 146,000 12200 574,000 F. ig S •.;,;.7. la f6 2,054,000 399,000 1,211,01X1 156,010 168,000 562,000 a= ,,,,,, -4.,..--' ; d • 4 ° March 746,0,0 616,000 317,0011 SP .D D '-' CI ,.... 7.0 MI April 679,000 657,000 2,078Ao 705,0c0 315,000 1,602,000 364,009 194,009 7:11,000 ps -L,. r.d ii" r..T, .-. May ...... „,„ 897,103 779,000 2.184,000 693.000 429,000 1,80,000 251,000 246,000 738,000 .. . ' ....7. 0„11 June 2,737,000 624,000 570,000 1.919,00) S23,00) 339,000 820,000 66,000 414,000 ,,_ 1": Z 5Z 1,230,000 781,000 ...::: July 999,000 1,389,000 881,000 766.000 2,003,0)0 628,000 321,000 1,124,000 .25 000 183,000 489,000 -"'" tE Ci 1,650,009 210,000 582,000 (7., > :A August 1,179,000 1,342,000 3,228,060 814,000 818,000 2,030,000 359,010 493,000 993,000 303,000 251,001 511,000 S 70 September 799,1)00 1,197,000 2,810,000 881,000 787,000 1,924,000 401,000 416,000 978.000 1777;7;00 427,000 684,000 1,668,000 358,000 140,000 1,001.000 187,000 190,000 500,000 ' ,u 7) 03 October 815,000 1,009,000 2,616,000, ,-1 06 790.000 1698,000 500,000 566,000 1,601,000 260.6.00 2611.000 994,000 146,000 515,000 1, 1 November ...... 672,000 545,000 ._. 0or", (0,) ; December 1,193,000 742.000 3,149,00e 530,000 471,090 1,660,000 300,000 266,000 1,02.8,000 143.000 133,000 - _ - ... OD a 1,9- rr 11,324,000 9,942,090 68741000 6244000 3.701.000 3,218,000 1,t26,000 1,179,0W ,.._. ciii CA i• 0/ 7, 4 SEASON 12 MONTHS SEASON 7 MONTHS .1 lst June to 31st May 1st June to 319t December only ;I. 1884 188 1886 1887 "9.. 1884-65 1315-86 18811-17 q III,. Import 2,433,0x1000 5,060,0005,060,000 8,080,000 . Import 1,421,000 2,642,000 4,457,000 7,721,000 Delivery 1,179,000 2,350,000 4,682,000 6,859,000 .' 2-' Delivery 2,047,000 3,933,000 7,744,000 T r. ,...... ;?",__„ V. e

00 0 W