Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-12-22

There were also rivers meanderirI
through lovely wales to the far-awa.
distant sea, which, lying just within tn
line Of vision, appeared like streak 0
blue ether, blending with the humic
haze in which all distant objects wer
merged .
Beside the Kalu ganga (Black River
at the foot of Gamanala lies the town ,
Ratnapura (City Of Gems and in thii
city precious stones abound, $2,000.00l
or So, 900, 900 worth being the probable
output Of all the mines yearly. These
consist of rubies, sapphires, topazes
asterias, catseyes, alexandeites. and .
host of inferior stones. These stones
are obtained by the singhalese and
Moors from beds Of rivers, crevices il
rocks, pits dug in the alluvial soil and
from shafts sunk deep down through
the bedrock I'm fact very Tuueh aftel
the manner Of auriferons mining in
California. s<eA
Very good iron ore is also found II
this neighborhood, which the natives
GmeIt with charcoal and pound out the
rocks, making a superior quality o.
metal, which they fashion into rude
but useful, tools and implements. The
jewellers art is also practiced with great
success, the silver work Of Ratnapura
being celebrated here and much ad-
mired abroad.
Among other notable objects there is
famous Buddhist temple, dedicated
to Samana, the tutelar deity Of Sabaga.
muwa, contiguous TO the right bank Of
the river, close to Ratnapura. The
landing is from the waters edge by 9
miserable fight of steps to main
entrance opening into two court
yards, occupying about two and
a-half acres, inclosed separately by
brick walls. The ascent from the gate
way is by another fight Of marble steps
through covered veranda into an aisle
supported by columns, and at the west
end stand the objects Of Buddhistic
worship, with images in relief on the
oppositew wall. Above the main building
is a two-storied apartment, where the
paraphernalia of Samana is kept, to-
gether with relict of Buddha, which
is carried in procession during the July
or August festival Of each year.
All Of the ancient monuments and
their ruins, even in this district, are
nearly obliterated, but the face Of
the country, which is thickly inhabited
and largely cultivated, presents beauti-
full views Of magnificent mountains,
rugged hills or charming fruitful val
leys, and, where spared by the coffee
planter, considerable forests of valuable
timber.
Game is very plentiful, ranging from
the smallest squirrel to the largest ele.
phant, and including cheetas, elk, deer,
boar, hare, wild pig, &c. There are
thousands Of monkeys, whose mis-,
chievous pranks form the theme Of
many amusing stories. One of the best
told here is about Major Rogers, the
famous elephant shot, who did not cease
enumerating his slaughters Of that gi
gantic beast until they exceeded two
thousandl OF him it is related thai
while bathing after shooting excursion
some monkeys secured his clothes, d,
having habilitated themselves in them
decamped, leaving the luckless sports
man. in paSis -,aatarali6us for several
hours under a tropical sun. To escape
the scorching heat he spent the greater
portion Of his time in the water up tc
his neck, and was only delivered when
his friends came in search of him.