only for
a short time, as very few of the gem-men get their produce cut. The
simple instruments of their trade and the manner of carrying it on may
be seen any day for the trouble of taking a stroll through Old Moor
Street, Colombo, in the outer verandahs of which a great many will be
found at work.
I
have been induced to throw these cursory notes together in order to
explain a subject which seems to be very little understood beyond the
precincts of this district, and to draw attention to a calling which
gives occupation to so large a number of its people, in the hope of
advancing their interests in some degree. As I have already stated,
there is great improvement observable at present in the mode of search
for, and in the quality and quantity of yield. of gems, but there is,
it strikes me, great room for further improvements, the methods used
now being still in a great measure primitive.
It
is to be hoped that with the advance of experience and the late spur
given to exploration since the discovery of gems at Karangoda and
Weralupe at depths unreached in former times, other similar gem-fields
may soon be discovered in the district, adding to its value and importance. W. S.
P.S.—The
monster gem found at Weralupe, together with the other smaller pieces
found in the same pit, was sold here yesterday for ,£273.
REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF THE
SABARAGAMUWA DISTRICT.
{By Dr. Rudolph Gygax.)
I
left Colombo on my tour in July, 1847, and my instructions required me
to note in a geological way, the features of the country, pointing out
the peculiarities of the soil and climate; and when specimens of ores
or valuable earth were found, to examine the locality with a view to
ascertain the existence of any mines of value.
I
started from Ratnapura, the capital of the District, and followed the
course of the Walawe river for many miles, taking my way S. E. towards
Balangoda ; thence in the direction of the higher mountain zone
overlooking the Bintenna country.
The Geological formation of
the District appears to. be similar to that known as the Cambrian and
Devonian. The rocks are mostly granitic, interspersed by innumerable
stratas of irruptive matter: viz., syenite, hyper-stene, eupholite, and
basalts in all their varieties. In the lower parts of the District the
country chiefly consists of low undulating hills of quartz rock with
limestone and basalt.
The Soil generally
is of a superficial character, bearing luxuriantly a few crops, but, on
being worked, very rapidly wears out. It is believed that the heavy
rains at certain seasons overflowing the country from the higher forest
lands descend so charged with carbonic acid from the decayed
vegetation, as to neutralize and wash out the little alkaline matter
of this superficial soil. The red and brown soils, however, the
produce of the Plutonic formation, are far more lasting, as they
contain a good deal of rich alkaloids with more iron and manganese.
Rivers.—The
only considerable rivers here are the Kaluganga and AValawe, running
from S.E. to N. W.; the small streams run from S. \V. to N. E. The
former river is navigable from Ratnapura to the sea at Kalutara, from
which place there is a canal to Colombo, which will materially assist
the transfer of ores and minerals to Colombo.
From
the commencement of my researches, I felt convinced that I should
succeed in meeting with mines of iron, tin, manganese, cobalt, nickel
and others; and even at the present moment, although but very partially
successful, and meeting with many difficulties, I am confident of
their 'existence both from the general features of the country and from
the evidences met with. It must be borne in mind that all the
specimens, or even larger quantities of metals hitherto collected, have been simply taken from the
