TRANSPORT.

17

Valley tea district on the same gauge, but in a comparatively
Hat country.
There are 163 miles of canals, navigable by barges, in the
Island, mostly engineered by the Dutch, and on some of
these light draught passenger steam boats ply daily. Of
macadamized roads the mileage is 2,605, of gravelled roads
848, and of natural roads 393. All the above are principal
thoroughfares in charge of the Public Works Department,
while there is a complete network of minor roads, both for
Wheeled traffic and bridle paths, constructed and maintained
by local Road Committees.

DOUBLE PADDA BOAT ON RIVER.

The steepness of the gradients, the torrential rains, exuberant
 vegetation, and fierce tropical heat all combine to
render road construction and maintenance in Ceylon a very
costly affair, but Ceylon is justly renowned for theengineering
skill displayed in the formation of its roads and the solidity
and evenness of their surface, which is so necessary when the
bulk of the traffic is carried on by the slow-moving and
ponderous bullock cart of the country.
Tramways so far have been opened in Colombo only.
The Colombo Tramway System is “an electric tramway
worked on the overhead trolley system at a pressure of 550
volts.” Work on the track, overhead construction. and