precious
stones in the plains, most of which seem now to be nearly exhausted.
But who is to mine the hill deposits? Near Pettigalakanda he was struck
by the resemblance of the formations to others of undoubted volcanic
origin. He wrote :—" All these rocks appear together in a great
confusion, so much, that I cannot but compare it to the part of a
crater. Huge masses of rocks are seen hanging over others like cooled
lava. Having seen the volcanoes of the Azores, I find a strange
similarity of this spot to one of the semicraters round the trachytic
ridge of Setecidades Island, St. Miguel."
The
strata here are " rich in chromite of iron and a fine emerald green
mineral, which, I believe, to be protoxide of chrome." This substance
might, he thinks, be collected by the natives, and, with the aid of
cheap nitre from Bengal, chromic colours, he conceives, could be
manufactured in Ceylon.
Dr.
Gygax notices that on soil, apparently barren from the existence of
masses of lava-like iron stone, the forest trees are rich in valuable
gums, dyes, and oils. Dr. Gygax enters at large into the native process
of smelting, and into the question of improved modes and the prospects
of their paying, but our time and space being limited, we must pass
over all this at present, and give the curious paragraph with which the
report concludes.
" The slakes from the furnace are not without value, they contain a large quantity of chrome and manganese.
"
A most singular fact is that in the jungle the slake does not
decompose after many hundred years, and near the houses in about 2
years. I am at a loss for an explication, perhaps the influence of
animal matter. It is said that the decompose slakes afford the best
manure for paddy fields. This would give a chance to sell the slakes
for the sake of chrome or manure, if some means could be found out to
decompose it cheap and in a short time."
The
reports, it will be seen, throw no direct light on the gold question,
but at this moment all that refers to the geology and mineralogy of the
island is of value, and will be eagerly looked into until the Gold
Question is set at rest. Dr. Mac Vicar, in his paper recently reprinted
by us, mentions that the substance of Dr. Gygax's researches was
embodied in an article contributed to the transactions of the local
Asiatic Society for 1848. We have looked into the article which
consists of lists of minerals, 37 found by Dr. Gygax himself; 9
presented by friends; and 27 obtained from native dealers; with a
meagre preface containing a promise, which appears never to have been
fulfilled, of giving a description- of each mineral. The list of
minerals now actually in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, chiefly the
result of Dr. Gygax's researches, is thus afforded io the most lately
published transactions:—
"The
minerals and geological specimens collected by Dr. Gygax in the,
Saffragam District, forming a large and valuable collection. Presented principally by Government.
In
this general collection, there are about 100 specimens of Rock Crystal,
Hyalithe, Amethyste, Quartz, Zircon, Tourmaline, Disthene, Beryl,
Epidote Hornblende, Mica, Garnet, Spinel, Corundum, Chrysoberyl, Topaz,
Apatita, Feldspar, Binnerite, Wolfram, Rutil, Pyrochlor, Ilmenite,
Titan ore, Arsenite of Nickel, Hematite, Arsenite of Kobalt, Tin ore,
Chromate of iron, Chrom ochre, Molybdena, Iron pyrites, Iron glance,
Magnetic iron ore. Iron ocher, Bog iron ore, Anthracite; with about as
many geological or rock specimens from the same district.
A collection of specimens illustrative of the geology of Nuwara Eliya. From Dr. Kelaart.
Other specimens of rocks and minerals from other parts of Ceylon; including a specimens of Ceylonite, From Lieut. Henderson, G. R. R,
Specimen of iron-ore, from the Matura district.
Specimen of iron found at Galle in digging a well. From Mr. G, Goonwa.rdene,
Some iron pyrites From C. Whitehouse, F.sq.
