The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-10-27

St. Louis Republican.

St Louis Republican.
Mr.. E. T. Delmege, of the island O
Ceylon, where he fills the position O
Justice of the peace, and consul for Spail
and Portugal, and where for three year
he was the acting consul of the United
States, is at the Lindell. Ceylon i.
south of Hindoostan, and is under
British denomination. An account o
the country, as obtained from so intelli-
gent an official, serves to correct our old
traditions, repeated in the early geogra-
phies, regarding the people and the com
mercial product and present condition OF
| the island. The capital Is COlumbo.
The island is governed by a governor
general sent from England. The present
| governor general Is Sir William H.
Gregory, X. c. B., who was knighted by
| the Prince of Wales on his last visit to
the island. The ceremony was performed
in the ancient hal Of -ll.sl..Iseii tsiiigs
~ -==<sSnda.
The great article of export from Cey-
lon is coffee, which is gradually being in
troduced into the United States. 1t is
claimed to be much superior to the
Brazil and Java berry and costs more
money. The island now exports nearly
100000 cwt. to England, France and
Germany. Ceylon is supposed to have
been the island to which the queen of
Sheba paid a visit to King Solomon.
Another great export is cocoanut oil,
used in the manufacture of candles, soap,
etc. Plumbago forms another extensive
article of export, and is used in New
York, Philadelphia and Pittsburg for lu-
bricating purposes and for the manufac-
ture of crucibles. Another article for
export is coir yarn, made from the outer
she'll of the cocoanut. The yarn IS man /
ufactured into ropes and the ibres for
stufing mats, etc. As all the world /
knows cinnamon is also largely pro-
duced.
Mr.. Delmege states that the so-called
cinnamon used in the United States Is
cassia, rough jungle cinnamon, and
very little like the true cinnamon. Spain
is the great consuming country for the
genuine article.
The noted pearl fisheries have been
carried on near the northern coast of
the island for three hundred years. They
were suspended in order to give the oys-
ters time TO grow, but pearl digging Is
resumed again Year before last the
sum of 10000 rupees was derived by the
government from the pearl fishers. who
ell the shells to purchasers from China,
Singapore, and Java. There is to be an
,ther fishing for the shells this year-it
'eing allowed every third year. Ceylon I
5 also noted for its precious stones, com
,rising sapphires, rubies, cats eyes, and
-arious other gems.
Point-de-Galle is the great coaling de-
not for all the steamers going TO Calcutta, ,
Iadras, Singapore, Dhina, and Australia.
he tonnage at this POINT last wear
Another feature of the island, which {
! four-fifths the size Of Ireland, is the
fild beasts, which fill the jungles and !
oam over the hill country. There Is the
hetah-a sort of hunting leopard the !
ufalo, small black bear, the civet doer, :
whose horns are an article of export. :
Elephants without tusks are plentiful, as
re also what is called the rogue" ele +
,hant, who roams the forest alone and
annot be tanned because of its dangerous 7
emper Then among the reptiles is the {
obra-a deadly snake with a hood, and
or his bite there is no cure. A weasel
haped animal is the only enemy
hat can cope with the cobra and does
lot get poisoned from his bite.