Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-09-26

/ spices were familiar TO the Greeks and
/ Romans, who called II Taprobane, and
to the Arab traders, who first introduced
the coffee plaat ID was also known to
/ the Mohammedan world al lafgc, who
10 this DAY regard the island as the ely.
stun prepared Tor Adam and Eve to
console them Tor the loss OF Paradise.
Z On the basis Of this story the reef rum
ming between the island and India has
been named Adams Bridge, while the
most conspicuous and majestic, though
not the highest, mountain IN the island
has been known a. Adams Peak. To
the people Of India, to the Burmese.
Siamcse and Chinese, Ceylon, which Is
called "Lanka, the Respondent, was
equally an object OF interest and admir-.
alton. and Il IS admitted that no island
IN the world. Great Britain not except
cd, has attracted the attention Of authors
~ 10 many different countries as has
Ceylon. II is also asserted that there Is
no land which can tell so much Of is
past history, not merely Ia songs and
legends, but In records which have been
verified by monuments. inscriptions and
coins. Some Of the structures Ia and
around the ancient capitals OF the Sing.
ha.cse The name given 20 the natives VI
Ceylonl are more than 7,foo years old,
and only second to those OF Egypt In
vastncss OF extent and architectural In.
tercst Between sA5 before Christ (when
WUaya. prince from northern India, Is
said 10 have invaded Ccylon, conquered
the native rulers and made himself klngl
aud the middle OF the year 1875 when
the last king OF Randy, a cruel mon.
stcf. was deposcd aud banishcd BY the
Bntishlthc Singhalcsc chronicles present
the world with list Of nearly ITO kings
and queens, the history of whose ad.
niinistfations Is oi the most varied and
interesting character. and Il indicates
the attainment OF degree Of civi
likation and material progress very I'm.
usual In the east 1t that time. ~ differ.
ent times thelSinghalese made successful
incufsions into ncighhoring Countries,
while at other times they IN turn were
subdued by others, once by the Chinese,
TO whom they paid tribute for years
Ceylon was, however, exposed chiefly
TO incursions OF Malabar princes aud
Adventures with their followers from
southern India, who waged a constant
and generally successful contest with
the Singhalesc. The northern and east.
ern portions Of the island at length be-
came permanently occupied by the Ia.
mills natives OF southern India. who
placed prince Of their own on the Kan
dyan throne. and 80 far had the ancient
power Of the kingdom declined that
when the Portuguese hrst appeared IN
Ccylon In 1904, the island was divided
under no less tnan seven separate rulers.
For $50 years the Portuguese occupied
and controlled the maritime or lower
districts Of Ceylon, but il was more OF a
military occupation than a regular gov
eminent, and martial law chiefly pre-.
vailed. Under Portuguese rule some OF
the Inhabitants were converted to the
Catholic form oi Christianity, and royal
monopolies IN cinnamon, pepper and
musk were established, and they ex
ported cafdamons, sapan wood, areca
nuts, ebony, elephants, ivory, gems,
pearls, etc. The Du,eh, whO by 1886
had finally expelled the Portuguese
rulers from the island, pursued far
more progressive administrative policy,
though their doings were selfish and OPP
presslve In commercial matters. They.
ike the Portuguese, were confined to the
low country, as the king Of Handy de-
fed all European invaders. Tue Dutch
did much TO develop cultivation and to
improve the means Of transportation,
mostly through the construction OF
canals. A lucrative commerce was es.
tablished with Holland and other coun.
tries, the Protestant religion was intro.
duced and number Of other improve
ments made. Cinnamon was the great
staple Of export, next came pearls. ele-
plants, pepper, efeca or betel nuts, Jag.
ger sugar. sapan wood and timber gem
orally. afraek spirit, choya roots, eafda.
mons, etc. The cultivation OF coffee
and indigo was begun but not carried on
to such an extent as to benefit the ex.
ports.
Though agriculture was promoted by
the Dutch Tor selfish purposes. good re.
suited thereirom, as In the case OF the
planting Of cocoanut palms along the
western coast Thus when the British
superseded the Dutch In 1896, the
whole Of the southwestern shore for
nearly loo miles presented an unbroken
grove Of palms, which Is seen to this
day. From 1886 TO 1904 Ceylon was
placed under the East India Company5s
control, who administered Il from Port
ST. George, Madras; but In 1904 Il was
made a crown colony. Il soon became
evident that there could be no settled
peace until the tyfant king on the Kan
| dyan throne was deposed aud the whole
island brought into subsection TO British
rule. This was accomplished Ia 1915.
when, at the instgaiion OF the kandyan
| chiefs and people themselves, WIKI.
rama Simba, the last king, was cap.
tured and deposed and exiled by the
British to southern India. Since that
time Great Britain has ruled Ceylon
without any trouble.
When the British took possession in
1896 the total number OF inhabitants on
the whole island was estimated at less
| Than one million, there are now over
three millions. Colombo had about
2s,ooo Inhabitants against $50, 600 at the
present time.
Colombo Of today has much TO inter.
est the visitor, among which may be
mentioned is tine artificial harbor. It's
beautiful drives, rs lakes and nyrf, It's
| public museum, the old Dutch church.
the bungalows and gardens OF the Eu
| rupcaus etc, still more UNIQUE are the
| Cfowdt d naive parts al the town teen.
ing with every variety Of oriental race
| aud costume, OF the different race,
! may be mentioned the eileminatc light
brown SinghaleSe, the real natives Of ihis
land, Of whom both men and women
tie their hair behind In knots, the former
patronlzlng combs aud the latter clab.
crate naiJpins. Then there are the
darker aud more manly Tamus, Hin
docs OF almost every caste aud dress.
Muormcn or Arab descendants, Afghan
traders Malay policemen, a few Pasee,
and Chinese, kalir mixed descendants.
besides the EuBsidns oil Dutch or Por
| Inumr.n or In-M-h md nnILN. .r.-nnL