64 TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

Galle, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya), and reference can always
be made to one of them regarding the status of any firm
desiring goods for sale on commission ; or to the Secretary
of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Yet there are
instances on record where goods sent and the proceeds
have been absolutely irrecoverable, and the name of a
Burasian who came to Ceylon from India has had the
distinetion of being “posted” in the Philadelphia Commereial
Museum. ~The European business houses are almost entirely
situated in the Fort of Colombo, but in the Pettah are a
considerable number of native firms of standing ; and the
attention paid to them by commercial travellers is often wel}
rewarded.
A fixed exchange of fifteen rupees to the pound sterling
has removed serious complications in money matters. It is
as easy for an American to multiply his (gold) dollars by
three to learn the number of rupees as it is to divide by
five to arrive at the number of sovereigns; and indeed to
others familiar with American currency the dollar supplies
an easy connecting link in mentally changing rupees into
their Enelish equivalent. and vice versa.

Customs Figures of the Trade.

The following are the articles sent direct to and received
from the United States for the years 1901, 1902, and 1903 ;
and values are added to quantities to afford information
regarding fluctuations in price. Details regarding trade
with other countries can be obtained at the Cevlon Court :—

Exports.
(Solely the Produce and Manufactures of the Island.)

1901

31
1821
155
25389
3722*
200%

Quantity,

1902.

18903

247 1082
75 27
3313 120
4208*| 4807* !
2161 1217+

cwt. Béche-de-mer
cwt, Cacao
cwh, Cardamoms
1b. Cinchona bark
cwt., Cinnamon

Value.

1901. | 1909.

1903.

Rs.
1100
89047
26435
2539
2379202

Ra

Rs.

10196
10289
298
289498

11945
4150
8
303609