GOLD IN THE KURUNEGALA DISTRICT.
Mudaliyar
Jayetilleke of Kurunegala has forwarded to us some interesting
specimens of quartz and plumbago streaked with auriferous-looking
substances. He writes as follows :—
"
t send you per train some quartz picked up from different places in the
district. I believe the glittering stuff adhering to them is mica. I
simply send these to you to ascertain if the quartz I am sending is of
the proper sort wherein I am to search for the real thing. I have been
guided by the piece of quartz with gold you gave me; and what is more,
I have shewn it to hundreds of people here, without telling them where
it was got from, and I hear a good many are going about searching for
gold. I wish them success. iSth June 1881."
The
streak of green glittering matter in the plumbago is copper, while the
qaartz is freely mixed with pyrites, but of a very promising character,
and in one instance Mr. A. C. Dixon thinks it must be auriferous. One
mode of distinguishing between iron pyrites and gold in quartz is the
tarnished look which comes over the former, but a good lens is required
to distinguish this clearly. Mr. Dixon has himself found the evidences
of gold in the Kurunegala district, some miles along the
Dambulla road. It is this gentleman's belief that the reef which crops
out in the Dolosbage district runs along by Rambukkana through the
Kurunegala district. Further exploration is required.
THE CEYLON PRESENT OK PEARLS TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL (From the Colombo Observer, February
17th, 1859.) Pakier Tamby's gold and jewelled box, surmounted by an
elephant, is, after all, to form the main portion of the present to the
Princess Royal. A pair of rich pearl bracelets is to be added. The old
jeweller told us last evening that he looked more to the honour than
to, the profit of the transaction—-intimating that he had parted with
the box below its value. But then when the (>ueen and
Princess ask "Who made this box.?" the reply will be " Pakier Tamby of
Ceylon !—the same, whose workmanship, exhibited at Paris, received honorable mention." And so, he says, his old age will be crowned with honour.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PRESENT. (From the Colombo Observer, June 23rd.) We have received the following for publication :—
The
Governor has received the following most gracious Letter from Her Royal
Highness, the Princess Frederick William of Prussia, and has much
gratification in communicating Her Royal Ilighness's sentiments and
thinks, to all who took part in the offering recently presented.
Pavilion, Kandy, June 20th, 1859.
Berlin', May nth, 1859. Sir,—I
am commanded to inform Your Excellency, that Her Royal Highness the
Princess Frederic William of Prussia, Princess Royal of Great Britain
and Ireland, has had great satisfaction in receiving the magnificent
pr_>sents forwarded by you for her acceptance on behalf of the
Colony of Ceylon. Being the work of native artists, Her Royal Highness
highly admired them for their taste,
and richness, and they are to Her Royal Highness objects of the
greatest interest and curiosity. But they have, and ever will have, the
gratest value in the Princess's eyes as a token of the affection and
attachment which prevail, not only among the British residents, but
among the native population of your Island, towards the person of Her
August Mother, and which are in such a kind manner extended to herself.
Her
