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MINERALS IN CEYLON.
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each
other up to a ridiculous figure. There are instances where a sapphire
which sold here for 2,500 rupees, changed hands subsequently at Colombo
for 1,500 rupees; and in the case of the last find (a ruby, the size of
a walnut) the owner refused 5,000 rupees here, to discover, on his
arrival at Colombo, that it was flawed and worthless.
{From the Report on the Hamhantota District for 1868.)
A new branch of industry—not in the interest of agriculture, indeed,
but of mining—has, I am glad to be able to report, within the last few
weeks, been introduced: one from which much good will result, both as
opening out a fresh and remunerative field of labour, and inducing a
flow of capital into the district. I allude to the fiading of plumbago,
of excellent quality, at Warapitiya in Giruwa Pattu near the Kirama
Reservoir Traces of the mineral had previously been found in other
parts of the I'attu: and I had long been of opinion that ample
quantities would in time be brought to light. The value of the
discovery is not to be overrated, as the demand in England for the
mineral, which is for the first importance in the arts, is immense and
constant. The attention of merchants interested in the export of
plumbago, is cordially invited to the discoveries recently made.* It
may be worth while to note here also, that what is believed to be
magnesian lime stone occurs close to the main road to Badulla about
sixteen miles north of Hambantota.
CEYLON KAOLIN FOR POTTERY.
(From the Ceylon Observer, July
28, 1879.) We owe to Sir William Gregory (whose continued interest in
Ceylon is being displayed in so many ways,) a trial which has been
given at " Minton's China Works" to a sample of our finest kaolin,
better known by the native name kirimeti. We regret to say that the
result has not been so favourable as was generally anticipated. In a
Chinese history of the Ming dynasty, A.D. 1368-1643, "pottery-stone" is
enumerated among the imports into China from Ceylon, and for a
generation back we have been accustomed to regard our kaolin as equal
to the manufacture of fine ware—Emerson Tennent declaring its colour to
be so dear as to suit for the manufacture of porcelain—the difficulty
and cost of carriage alone rendering it unavailable for the European
manufacturer. But the report of such competent authorities as "
Minton's " to Messrs. Goode, London, runs as follows :—
"
In your package to-day we semi a breakfast cup and saucer made from the
sample clays sent to you by the late Governor of Ceylon. We also
enclose three sample ' bats' made from the same clay, the one marked
No. 151 having been simply washed and then fired. From the sample now
sent, you will see it is too full of dirt of our use. We have labelled
the underside of the saucer." The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Douglas, we
believe, brought out the cup and saucer referred to, from Sir William
Gregory, for deposit in the Colombo Museum. They are not regarded as a
success by our late Governor, and, as there can be no doubt of the care
exercised in selecting his sample of kaolin, there is not much
encouragement to try again with further samples through ''Minton's" nr
nthpr home manufacturers. According to an analvsk made in
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