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

I
oy coral reels. Colombo Is distant gol
miles from Bombay, 600 from Madtas
Z, 400 from Calcutta, 400 from Ran.
COON tBunmahl, ! 600 from Singapore.
2 500 from Mauntius and about the same
distance from Madagascar. about 1000
from Natal, 5000 from Hong Kong,
5000 from freemantle or Western Aus
iralia, and about AGO from Alden,
Arabia.
Ceylon is almost connected with the
continent ui Asia llndia) by the island
OF Ramisseram and the coral reef called
Adams bridge. In extent it comprises
nearly sixteen million acres or 2d,7o2
square miles, apart from certain depend
cnt islands. The total area IS about
five sixth OF that OF Ireland. One sixth
OF this area, or about 4,ooo square
miles Is comprised OF the hily and
mountainous country which Is situated
about the centre OF the south Of the
island while the maritime districts are
generally level, and the northern end Of
the island IS broken up into a flat mar.
row peninsula and small inleis. Within
the central zone there are $50 mountains
or ranges varying In height from 5000
10 1000 feet with ten peaks rising over
the latter limit. The highest mountain
IS pidumtalagall, which Ia 3. ago feet
above the level OF the sea. The summit
OF Adams Peak. which Tor long time
was considered the highest point on
the island. is 1858 feet high. To
voyagefs approaching the coast the lat
eris the most conspicuous mountain Of
Ceylon. The longest river Of the island
is the Mahaveliganga. which has
course OF nearly $50 miles, draining
about one.sixth Of the area Of the island.
There are five other good sized rivers
besides numerous tributaries and
smaller streams The principal products
Of Ccylon arc rice, tea, coffee cinnamon
cocOanuis. cifdamons, nutmeg, Glove,
pepper, vanilla, ginger, bread iruii,
sugar cane, gum, chocolate plants, cacao,
cnchons, cotton, tobacco, rubber
trees, blue gum., etc. IL Is estimated
that there are 100000 acres under rice or
paddy at the present time, and about
10000 under dry grain, Indian corn and
other cereals. Ceylon cinnamon Is con
sidefed the finest In the world. 1t was
known through Arab caravans to the |
Romans who paid In Rome the equiva.
lent OF $40 per pound iof the fragrant |
spice. Ceylon Is sometimes called the |
"mo her Of cinnamon" and Cinnamon |
Isle" In 1891 the export Of cinnamon
was as high as s,5o9,774 pounds IN bales |
and $50, 254 pounds IN chips, which was |
raised on about $1,000 acres OF land. |
The cultivation OF palms Is Of the great
est importance to the island. there are |
thirteen different kinds. II has been |
commonly remarked that the uses oi
the cocoa.nut palm are as numerous a.
the days OF the year. Pefcival, noted |
navigator. relates that early In the
present century small ship from the |
Maldiye Islands, arrived at Gale, Ccylon, |
which was entirely built, rugged |
proyisioned, and laden with the produce |
Of the cocoa nut palm. Food, drink, |
domestic interests, materials for build |
ing and matching, foinc, sugar aud oil |
are among the many giiis to man OF
these munihccni trees. Some years ago |
the crew OF a wrecked vessel cast away |
on a South Sea Island subsis,cd Tor |
several months on no other food than |
cocoa.nuts aud boiled fish and added TO |
their weight In that time. The average
value OF the annual products OF the |
cocoa.nut palm from Ceylon IS about |
a, 6oo 600, while the value OF the pro.
duce locally consumed Is estimated at
about eight million dollars There are
hANAN AAAAAAANAN VI AAhaA-AAhA
palms cultivated In Ccylon covering
about 500, 600 acres, all but about 1000
acres being owned by the natives. The
annual yield Of nuts IS supposed to be
500 millions.
The bread.iruit tree. the Jak, orange
and mango, as well As gardens Of
plantains and pine.apples, melons,
guayas, papaws, etc, are also among
the products cultivated and OF great use
10 the people Of Ceylon. There Is
scarcely a native land owner who does
not possess a garden Of palms, OF other
fruit trees besides rice fields.
could write great deal on
Ceylon, which | found one OF the most
interesting Islands OF the sea which !
have visited so tar on my mission, but
will stop right here iot the present /
found the natives OF Ceylon, as tn many
other places copying the vices Of the
white man and enlafging upon them,
while they are closing their eyes and
ears 10 his virtues. The native traders,
guides and others with whom the visitor
comes into contact, are generally dis.
honest In the extreme, Those who sell
eurios, fruit etc, will sometimes ask
thousand per cent more Tor their goods
than they are worth, and unless man
makes a clear bargin with a guide or
driver beforehand. he Is sure TO be
taken In" and have trouble besides.
No matter how much they are paid ior
their services, they always beg ior more.
Most OF the natives are Buddhists and
Mohammedans. but there Is also a
sprinkllng OF Christians. The Wesley.
aus commenced missionary work In
Ceylon In 1916, the Baptists two years
earlier. The so.caled American mis-.
sion has also made some efforts at
outstanding the island. There are no
La,ler.day Saints yet.
ANDREW JENsoS.
SURz. Egypt. Africa. lune. OH. 1890.