ASSAM, BURMA, AND CEYLON 195
exported. Probably no country in the world of equal
area possesses such natural wealth as Ceylon. Useful
minerals and valuable gems are not wanting. Iron, tin,
plumbago, copper, quicksilver, and coal are all in the
sland ; and there is a cave from which the best Epsom
salts are produced. The precious stones chiefly in
repute are the ruby, cat’s-eye, sapphire, amethyst, topaz,
garnet, and beryl ; but casual purchasers should beware
of imitations, in which a large trade was for many years
successfully carried on. Latterly, however, this trade
has not proved so profitable, and it is attended with a
certain amount of risk.
The two most interesting features of Ceylon to the visitor
are its wealth of modern plantations in the south, and of
ancient Buddhist ruins
in the north, Amidst
thenaturalbeauty which
he will find distinguishing
 the former, with
all the enchantment of
mountain and river
scenery (for the rivers
of Ceylon are very
beautiful, even if they
are economically unimportant),
 and all the
comforts of home surroundings
 in thisgarden
of the eastern world, he
may well forget that the
attractions of Ceylon once lay farther north, where there
are relics of an historic past which surpass in interest any-‘hing
 of their kind to be found in India.
Ceylon is the land of Buddhists—even more so
than Burma. The yellow-robed priest is always en
fvidence, and the bells of temples, and the chant of
the scholar, learning his monotonous incantations and
prayers as he sits under a hedge of sunflowers or the
shade of the temple portico, is always in the air. Kandy

A