Ceylon; an Account of the Island Physical, Historical, and / Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History, Antiquities and / Productions, Volume 1

by Sir James Emerson Tennent

PART I.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

CHAPTER I.

GEOLOGY.—MINERALOGY.—GEMS.

• I. General Aspect.
• • Singular beauty of the island [3]
  • Its ancient renown in consequence [4]
  • Fable of its "perfumed winds" (note) [4]
  • Character of the scenery [5]
• II. Geographical Position [6]
• • Ancient views regarding it amongst the Hindus,—"the Meridian of Lanka" [6]
  • Buddhist traditions of former submersions (note) [7]
  • Errors as to the dimensions of Ceylon [8]
  • Opinions of Onesicritus, Eratosthenes, Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy, Agathemerus [8,] [9]
  • The Arabian geographers [9]
  • Sumatra supposed to be Ceylon (note) [10]
  • True latitude and longitude [11]
  • General Eraser's map of Ceylon (note) [11]
  • Geological formation [12]
  • Adam's Bridge [13]
  • Error of supposing Ceylon to be a detached fragment of India [14]
• III. The Mountain System [14]
• • Remarkable hills, Mihintala and Sigiri [15]
  • Little evidence of volcanic action [16]
  • Rocks, gneiss [16]
  • Rock temples [17]
  • Laterite or "Cabook" [17]
  • Ancient name Tamba-panni (note) [17]
  • Coral formation [19]
  • Extraordinary wells [21]
  • Darwin's theory of coral wells examined (note) [22]
  • The soil of Ceylon generally poor [24]
  • "Patenas," their phenomena obscure [24]
  • Rice lands between the hills [26]
  • Soil of the plains, "Talawas" [27]
• IV. Metals.—Tin [29]
• • Gold, nickel, cobalt [29]
  • Quicksilver (note) [29]
  • Iron [30]
• V. Minerals.—Anthracite, plumbago, kaolin, nitre caves [31]
• • List of Ceylon minerals (note) [32]
• VI. Gems, ancient fame of [32]
• • Rose-coloured quartz (note) [33]
  • Mode of searching for gems [34]
  • Rubies [34]
  • Sapphire, topaz, garnet, and cinnamon stone, cat's-eye, amethyst, moonstone [37], [38]
  • Diamond not found in Ceylon (note) [38]
  • Gem-finders and lapidaries [39]
• VII. Rivers.—Their character [40]
• • The Mahawelli-ganga [41]
  • Table of the rivers [41]
• VIII. Singular coast formation, and its causes [43]
• • The currents and their influence [44]
  • Word "Gobb" explained (note) [46]
  • Vegetation of the sand formations [48]
  • Their suitability for the coconut [51]
• IX. Harbours.—Galle and Trincomalie [52]
• • Tides [52]
  • Red infusoria [53]
  • Population of Ceylon [53]

CHAP. II.

CLIMATE.—HEALTH AND DISEASE.

• Uniformity of temperature [54]
• Brilliancy of foliage [56]
• Colombo.—January—long shore wind [56]
• February—cold nights (note) [57]
• March, April [58]
• May—S.W. monsoon [58]
• • Aspect of the country before it [59]
  • Lightning [60]
  • Rain, its violence [61]
• June [62]
• July and August, September, October, November. N.E. monsoon [63]
• December [64]
• Annual quantity of rain in Ceylon and Hindustan (note) [65]
• Opposite climates of the same mountain [66]
• Climate of Galle [67]
• Kandy and its climate [67]
• • Mists and hail [69]
• Climate of Trincomalie (text and note) [70]
• Jaffna and its climate [71]
• Waterspouts [72]
• Anthelia [73]
• Buddha rays [73]
• Ceylon as a sanatarium.—Neuera-ellia [74]
• • Health [75]
  • Malaria [75]
  • Food and wine [76], [77]
  • Effects of the climate of Ceylon on disease [79]
  • Precautions for health [80]

CHAP. III

VEGETATION.—TREES AND PLANTS.