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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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.--Euphorbi? 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 Monkeys Wanderoo Error regarding the Silenus Veter (note) Presbytes Cephalopterus P. Ursinus in the Hills P. Thersites in the Wanny P. Priamus, Jaffna and Trincomalie No dead monkey ever found Loris Bats Flying fox Horse-shoe bat Carnivora.--Bears Their ferocity
Singhalese belief in the efficacy of