72

AGRICULA'URE.

forest (or the scrub growing on land previously chenaéd) is
felled and barnt,and a crop of “ dry grain ” (z.e., cereals such
as millet or maize, which do not require irrigation), pulse,
gingelly, or sometimes cotton, is grown on the land. After
two or three years the land is abandoned and grows up in
low scrub, and ten or more years must usually elapse before
it can be again chenasd. Vast areas of good forest have heen
wasted in Ceylon by this destructive practice.

HIGH LANDS AND PADDY FIELDS

The villager, especially in the more outlying districts,
has but few wants that cannot be supplied by his own
fields, or by the labour of himself or his women folk.
Cotton fabrics for his scanty clothing, kerosine oil for his
lamp where he has become too advanced for cocoanut oil, a
lew simple carry stuffs, such as dried Maldivian fish, a few
brass and earthenware utensils, simple furniture made by
the village carpenter, chunam or lime for his chew of betel,
and perhaps a little arrack at times, sum up most of his
requirements,
The sale of a little rice, a few cocoanuts, some betel nuts
or leaves, or (if he live near a town and has become
enterprising) of some vegetables or fruit, will provide him
with these. He is usually in debt for advances on his crops,
if not actually for loans on his land itself, to the money
lender or the village shopkeeper—often the same individual.