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GEMS IN CEYLON.
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pit
gets not a handful of satisfactory gravel, and is doomed to
disappointment and loss. Another circumstance noticed by the gem-men is
that when a large block of stone is found in the illan, you are sure to
find a valuable gem or more in the gravel under it. The bulk of the
gravel is composed, independently of the gems, of pieces of quartz
(tirawana-gal) and granite of different degrees of hardness. In it have
also been found pieces of copper-ore as at "Neriella, and nickle at
Gadawelle. The crust above spoken of as generally overlying the
gem-matrix, presents curious appearances. In some places it looks like
vitrified sand, the effect of a high degree of heat—at others like
simple induration the effect of a high degree of pressure long
continued.
The
right of gemming during the Kandyan Government was a Royalty, and it
was exercised for a time by this Government on its accession, but in
the advance of a more ..liberal policy, it has not been acted upon for
a long series of years. In the Kandyan rule, the services of the
inhabitants of several large villages called "Agra-gan" were
exclusively set apart for gemming purposes. There was also a body of
hereditary gem-men called '• Memk-kati-iaraya," and two Altidiansas (headmen)—those
of Neriella and Karawita to superintend the whole establishment, whose
Offices were likewise hereditary. This no doubt proceeded upon a
perception of the good effects of a division of labour—the cause which
has given origin to the caste,system throughout India now perverted
from its original institution. Though there is no caste of gem-men in
the country, yet it will be found that only a section of the people
understand and follow the occupation of gemming, and that their labour
cannot be procured at ordinary wages. To constitute the real gem-men, a
degree of experience and manual knack are required, which can only be
acquired by long practice. The system of joint-stockery on a small
scale is now being introduced into gem-searching speculations—the
ordinary plan now is to gem in partnership—the gem-men and the
land-owners having shares in the adventure.
We
have now got to the period when the gems are supposed to have come into
the possession of the gem-men. They dispose of their acquisition
chiefly to the Moormen, the great trading body in the interior. But
they seldom do so at any other time than at the I'erahera festival at
the Saffragam Dewale (Temple) in August—an annual fair when an immense
deal of traffic is mixed up with an equal amount of idolatrous worship
and immorality. Here the gem-men and the gem-buyers congregate and
effect their bargains. Though this is the usual mart where the gem
produce of the preceding year exchanges hand, yet the news of any
valuable gem being discovered anywhere, sets all the chicanery,
influence and humbug in the district in motion to get at the possession
of it at a value far less than its real worth; and in this scramble
unfortunately the poor gem-men in their ignorance are frequently duped
by the designing as has been the case with the finders of a great many
monster stones.
In
speaking of the gem-dealers at the I'erahera and other times, I should
notice the deceptions that are often practised on the unwary, by
selling to them counterfeit gems made of coloured glass, and a sort of
stone that is called " Keriiichy." These latter are real stones found where gems are gut, but they are not precious. They are of a far inferior hardness and very light as compared with the weight of real precious stones. There arc red, blue and yellow Kcrinchics, each
sort easily mistaken for rubies, sapphires, and topazes. The best test
to detect their nature is to cut them with the sharp angle of a real
precious stone, when they will be found to wear away in powder.
The
stones being now supposed in the possession of the country trader, are
sold either cut or in the rough to the wearers or to the export
speculators and diffused throughout the world.
In
connection with those who earn their living by gemming, I ought to
notice the stone-cutters of Ceylon—they are almost all Moormen, and
carry on their trade in the low-country. .Some of them, however, come
up to Katna. pura occasionally, and carry on their trade while business
lasts, which is
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