Ceylon; an Account of the Island

Ceylon; an Account of the Island
Physical,

Historical, and Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History,
Antiquities and Productions, Volume 1 (of 2), by James Emerson
Tennent
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Title: Ceylon; an Account of the Island Physical, Historical, and
Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History, Antiquities and
Productions, Volume 1 (of 2)
Author: James Emerson Tennent
Release Date: September 28, 2004 [eBook #13552]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND PHYSICAL, HISTORICAL, AND
TOPOGRAPHICAL WITH NOTICES OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY,
ANTIQUITIES AND PRODUCTIONS, VOLUME 1 (OF 2)***
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CEYLON; AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND PHYSICAL,
HISTORICAL, AND TOPOGRAPHICAL WITH NOTICES OF ITS
NATURAL HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES AND PRODUCTIONS
by
SIR JAMES EMERSON TENNENT, K.C.S. LL.D. &c.
Illustrated by Maps, Plans and Drawings
Fourth Edition, Thoroughly Revised
VOLUME I
LONDON
1860

[Illustration: Frontispiece for Vol I NOOSING WILD
ELEPHANTS--Vol 2 p 359 368 &c]

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME

PART I.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

CHAPTER I
.
GEOLOGY.--MINERALOGY.--GEMS.
I. General Aspect. Singular beauty of the island Its ancient renown in
consequence Fable of its "perfumed winds" (note) Character of the
scenery II. Geographical Position Ancient views regarding it amongst
the Hindus,--"the Meridian of Lanka" Buddhist traditions of former
submersions (note) Errors as to the dimensions of Ceylon Opinions of
Onesicritus, Eratosthenes, Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy, Agathemerus 8, The
Arabian geographers Sumatra supposed to be Ceylon (note) True
latitude and longitude General Eraser's map of Ceylon (note)
Geological formation Adam's Bridge Error of supposing Ceylon to be a
detached fragment of India III. The Mountain System Remarkable hills,

Mihintala and Sigiri Little evidence of volcanic action Rocks, gneiss
Rock temples Laterite or "Cabook" Ancient name Tamba-panni (note)
Coral formation Extraordinary wells Darwin's theory of coral wells
examined (note) The soil of Ceylon generally poor "Patenas," their
phenomena obscure Rice lands between the hills Soil of the plains,
"Talawas" IV. Metals.--Tin Gold, nickel, cobalt Quicksilver (note) Iron
V. Minerals.--Anthracite, plumbago, kaolin, nitre caves List of Ceylon
minerals (note) VI. Gems, ancient fame of Rose-coloured quartz (note)
Mode of searching for gems Rubies Sapphire, topaz, garnet, and
cinnamon stone, cat's-eye, amethyst, moonstone 37, Diamond not
found in Ceylon (note) Gem-finders and lapidaries VII. Rivers.--Their
character The Mahawelli-ganga Table of the rivers VIII. Singular coast
formation, and its causes The currents and their influence Word "Gobb"
explained (note) Vegetation of the sand formations Their suitability for
the coconut IX. Harbours.--Galle and Trincomalie Tides Red infusoria
Population of Ceylon
CHAP. II.
CLIMATE.--HEALTH AND DISEASE.
Uniformity of temperature Brilliancy of foliage
Colombo.--January--long shore wind February--cold nights (note)
March, April May--S.W. monsoon Aspect of the country before it
Lightning Rain, its violence June July and August, September, October,
November. N.E. monsoon December Annual quantity of rain in Ceylon
and Hindustan (note) Opposite climates of the same mountain Climate
of Galle Kandy and its climate Mists and hail Climate of Trincomalie
(text and note) Jaffna and its climate Waterspouts Anthelia Buddha
rays Ceylon as a sanatarium.--Neuera-ellia Health Malaria Food and
wine 76, Effects of the climate of Ceylon on disease Precautions for
health
CHAP. III
VEGETATION.--TREES AND PLANTS.
The Flora of Ceylon imperfectly known Vegetation similar to that of
India and the Eastern Archipelago Trees of the
sea-borde.--Mangroves--Screw-pines, Sonneratia The Northern
Plains.--Euphorbiæ Cassia.--Mustard-tree of Scripture Western
coast.--Luxurious vegetation Eastern coast Pitcher plant.--Orchids
Vines Botany of the Mountains.--Iron-wood, Bamboo, European

fruit-trees Tea-plant--_Rhododendron_--Mickelia Rapid disappearance
of dead trees in the forests Trees with natural buttresses Flowering
Trees.--Coral tree The Murutu--Imbul--Cotton tree--Champac The
Upas Tree--Poisons of Ceylon The Banyan The Sacred Bo-tree The
India Rubber-tree--The Snake-tree Kumbuk-tree: lime in its bark
Curious Seeds.--The Dorian, Sterculia foetida The Sea Pomegranate
Strychnos, curious belief as to its poison _Euphorbia_--The Cow-tree,
error regarding (note) Climbing plants, Epiphytes, and flowering
creepers Orchids--Brilliant terrestrial orchid, the
Wanna-raja.--Square-stemmed Vine Gigantic climbing Plants
Enormous bean Bonduc seeds.--Ratans--Ratan bridges Thorny
Trees.--Raised as a natural fortification by the Kandyans The buffalo
thorn, Acacia tomentosa Palms Coco-nut--Talipat Palmyra Jaggery
Palm--Arcea Palm Betel-chewing, its theory and uses Pingos Timber
Trees Jakwood--Del--Teak Suria Cabinet
Woods.--Satin-wood--Ebony--Cadooberia Calamander, its rarity and
beauty Tamarind Fruit-trees Remarkable power of trees to generate
cold and keep their fruit chill Aquatic Plants--Lotus, red and blue
Desmanthus natans, an aquatic sensitive plant

PART II.
ZOOLOGY.

CHAPTER I
.
MAMMALIA.
Neglect of Zoology in Ceylon