96
GOLD IN CEYLON.
It is to be observed that no great bed, and that no considerable vein of iron ore has yet been found in Ceylon; though
we must remark that a full half* of the island is comparatively
speaking a terra incognita to the Europeans in Ceylon capable of
investigating it. No foundry on an extensive scale could then, judging
from present appearances, be established with success. To the natives
it may possibly be worth while to collect scattered masses of ore for
their little furnaces, but unless an extensive bed or vein of ore be
found, the attempt to establish a foundry would be idle. Iron is melted
by the natives in crucibles, over a fire which is blown with two
bellows. The scoria is separated from it with tongs made expressly for
the purpose, and the melted mass poured into a mould of clay, after
which it is purified further, and forged for smaller uses. But one ore
of manganese, the grey or the black oxide, is yet known in Ceylon, and
that occurs in parts of Saffragam and Upper Uva. Like most of the ores
of iron it occurs finely disseminated and imbedded in small masses in
granitic rock; some specimens are pure, and in some places a
considerable quantity might be collected. Hitherto it has been applied
to no useful purpose, nor from its locale and dispersed state is it
likely to be exported with profit.
From
the nature of the rocks, other metals might have been expected in
Ceylon, says a learned geologist, who mentions that he has "sought in
vain among the mountains for tin, copper, and lead. All three, however,
are reported to exist by persons who have themselves discovered them,
and quicksilver and plumbago (kalu miniran, Singh.) which of
late years has been largely exported to England, may be added to the
list. Gold and mercury, which are said to occur native in Ceylon,
according to this writer are rarely found, but small lumps of the
former have been at times met with. "Did any," he continues, " of the
common, and what is more, of the precious metals occur in Ceylon it
would have been known long ago; for the natives are inquisitive and
curious, and being in the habit of searching for gems, and collecting
everything that glitters, or that is in the least likely to sell, even
bits of iron pyrites and ores of iron, it would be very extraordinary
were they to pass unnoticed substances more attractive, with the value
of which they are well acquainted." I may cursorily observe that this
remark is rather applicable to the natives of the southern, than any of
the other provinces of Ceylon, and that the opposite conclusion of
another learned geologist, embodied in the note,f is nearer the truth.
Dr. Davy's erroneous conclusion on these points must have arisen from
the imperfect opportunities at his disposal for the survey of the whole
island, not more than one-third of which he ever visited, and not from
any want of sagacity in observing, or ardour in pursuing the various
branches of natural science. Stahlstein, or crystallized pyrites,
impregnated with a little copper, is used by the Singhalese for making
buttons.
Most
of the gems for which Ceylon is celebrated, occur in granitic rock; for
though found in alluvial soil and the beds of rivers, their true source
mav
*
Coal is said to have been discovered iu the island by the Dutch ; but
from the abundance of wood, and charcoal beiug the only fuel used by
the native cooks, no notice was taken of the discovery, so that its
habitat is now unknown. The discovery of coal would now be considered
oue of the greatest acquisitions of which this favoured laird could
boast. It is not at all improbable that it exists iu parts of the
scarcely explored di-tricts in the north, where I venture to perdiet
the mineral wealth of Ceylon will be fmrrd to lie.
t
The sciences of geologv, mineralogy, &■,*., irr all their brauehes
are but imperfectly understood by the natives, notwiths'andrng Ceylon
is the depositoryof such an extensive variety of specimens. Their
attention s» ems never to have extended much beyond the valuable gems
ami the common ores. As to a thrusand other objects, both on the
surface of the earth and imbedded in the hiddeu substrata of nature, so
interesting to men of science, they have allowed them an almost
undisturbed repose, never- having ex> rVd themselves either to
quarry out & knowledge of their latent properties or ascertain
their intrinsic worth.
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