which he also saw dug by the sailors; and that Mr. Layard will leave for the spot this evening.
The
locality is about 40 miles from Colombo—near Girooele on the road from
Negombo to Kurunegala. A good carriage road runs all the way from
Colombo to the scene of action.
We
have as yet no precise information about the proportionate quantity of
Gold which the earth contains; but it cannot be insignificant, seeing
that the sailors have made the discovery, and are old Californian and
Australian diggers, continue at the work.
The next report we hope will be the result of personal inspection.
The Discovery of Gold in Ceylon.
The above was got up yesterday with special reference to the Express which left at i past
5 to overtake the Overland Mail. Copies were despatched to all the
leading London Newspapers, to subscribers to the overland Observer,
whose papers are posted from our Office, and to our subscribers
generally. The question as to the substance found being Gold seems
entirely set at rest, all the Government Officers concerned expressing
no doubt of this fact, and all the chemical tests applied to the
specimens received giving the same result and determining the Metal to
be Gold. The remaining question—and one which we hope soon to see
settled by the report of our special Commissioner who left for the
Diggings last night—is the percentage of auriferous matter in the
quartzy sand. No nuggets, we believe, have as yet been found, although
they may be discovered farther down in the earth, or farther up towards the source of the Maha Oya in the mountains of the interior. If Gold dust only
continues to be found, the question of the pursuit becoming highly
remunerative will remain still doubtful. Many of our friends, we
suspect, will fervently pray that this latter may be the eventual
result. A contrary one would doubtless lead to much temporary
embarrassment and distress, but it would be ultimately " the making" of
Ceylon and its people. Nothing like gold for " developing the dormant
resources " of a country and the dormant energies of individuals. While
we are writing, a respectable Burgher steps into our office, and begs
us to suggest to the unemployed young men of his class, that while
Europeans are posting away to see for themselves, they, so much
more closely bound to the soil, ought not to be behind. Bands of them
can club together and support each other in dignifying the mamotie and
the cradle to an elevation as great as that occupied by the pen of the
copyist. Should gold digging really become a permanent and profitable
pursuit, we "have little doubt that after a time it will assume what
appears to be the normal condition of enterprise in India—Asiatic
labour supported by European capital and guided by European oversight.
The Tamil coolies from Southern India will pour in in multitudes. But
in this and in other things they will act much like children. They will
look to Europeans for regular arrangements to procure shelter and
supplies, they in return working for day wages or a definite share in
the proceeds. And then as in Australia, many will become disgusted at
want of success—they will prefer the steady and certain receipt of the
Planters' rupees, and by and by there will be a superabundance of
labour to cultivate and gather coffee. No fear that intelligent,
enterprising and foreseeing Anglo-Saxons with some capital at their
command will allow themselves or their investments to go to the wall.
But other classes besides intelligent Europeans and docile natives will
come upon the scene. Face to face with the timid Asiatic will be
brought the rough sons of labour of Europe and America—not the steady
and the good, but the reckless pioneers in all that is adventurous and
wild drunken, swearing, fighting sailors who will desert the shipping,
and diggers from California and Australia with Bowie knives and life
preserves (?), and Colt's revolvers. How these discordant elements can
work together Without coming into disastrous or fatal collision will
form a problem requiring the most prompt and sagacious action on the
part pjj Government.
..... -
