HISTORICAL SKETCH : EXPORTS, 55

cent. to those shippers who contract to forward all their
cargo by the line, the contracts being for yearly periods.
The following paragraph reviewing the Island’s trade in
1899 isextracted from Sir West Ridgeway’s Annual Address to
the Legislative Council in opening the session for 1900-1 :—
“ A striking development occurred in the direct export
trade with the United States of America, the total value of
Ceylon produce so exported rising from 52 lacs in 1898 to
136 lacs in 1899, a consequence, largely, of the increased
value of plumbago (for which there is a large market in New
York), though trade generally is no doubt fostered by the
direct and regular steamer service now established between
Ceylon and the States.”
The return traffic from the States to Ceylon is not by
direct steamers at present. Goods for Ceylon arrive vid
London, Liverpool, or Bombay from the Atlantie ports, and
vid Hongkong from the Pacific coast. When the growth of
American imports ensures direct shipments orders will
increase still more, owing to the time Saved compared with
present arrangements.
Many articles, both ways, are handled in Europe and are
not credited to the country of origin ; but the following are
the official figures standing for direct interchange for two
vears only a decade apart: —

1892, 1902.
Rs. Rs.
Exports to the United States ... 5,496,061 ... 9,987,008
TImborts from the United States... 230.094 ... 795.597

which compare with the total overseas trade of the Island
exclusive of specie as follows :—

1892, 1902,
Rs. Rs.
Total Exports ... .. 61,095,885 ... 110,731,670%
Total Imports ... ...  B2761.949 ... 97.883.263

* Includes value of coal supplied to steamers. amounting to Rs. 12,497,280.

Exnorts.

For upwards of eleven years, beginning with the decision
to have a fine display at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893,
the Tea planters of Ceylon, aided by the Government, which
provides almost all the outlay in connection with International
 Expositions, have made a persistent and remarkable
effort to exploit the United States market. At the close
of the Chicago Exposition a permanent Commissioner was