166

THE CEYLON EXHIBIT.

households. A. large number of these, some of strikingly
handsome design, are exhibited by the Ceylon Government,
 as are also the baskets, &amp;c., for which the towns of
Kalutara and Galle are famous. The last are made of the
prepared leaf of the wild date palm (Phenix zeylanica).
The mats shown from Dumbara are of the Niyanda fibre
"Sanseviera zeylanica).
Rattan of various kinds (species of Calamus) is found in
great abundance in the forests of Ceylon, but it is considered
inferior to the article imported from the Malay Peninsula.
It is put to a variety of uses, from the supports of the heavy
cart tents to the expensive matting, costing 30 rupee-cents
per square foot, the coolest and cleanest carpet in a tropical
climate. The trade is chiefly in the hands of the local
Malays, and some good samples are shown by one of them,
Mr. A. C. Sumps of Colombo. The jinricksha, a vehicle of
Japanese origin, and a cane settee should not be overlooked.
Plumbago, which is exported so largely to the United
States, is fully discussed in Chapter VIII, “ Mineral Resources.”
 The article is exhibited by the chief mine
owners and the merchants who deal in it, and blocks shown
by Mr. H. Bastian Fernando and Mr. James Fernando are
of special interest for their unusual size. There are also
figures of animals, &amp;c., carved from the mineral.
The Steel used in the ancient arms on exhibit is of local
manufacture, now almost extinct in view of the cheapness
of the imported metal.
Mica from Badulla is on show, and several of the Sinhalese
palm leaf umbrellas, &amp;c., are ornamented with this article.
The Gems of Ceylon are world-renowned. From Ratnapura,
 the City of Gems, comes the rude appliances used in the
shallow pits where the beautiful rubies and sapphires are
found—the iron rod for locating the gem-bearing gravel, the
“mamoty” used in raising the gravel to the surface, and
the cane basket in which the gravel is washed—as well
as those employed by the lapidary in cutting and polishing
the stones—the stone disc fixed vertically, on which the
“corundum ” dust is spread, the short stick to which the gem
is attached, and the horizontal copper wheel on which it is
finally polished. A “pigeon’s blood” ruby set in a ring is
exhibited by Mr. D. J. Jayatilleke, J.P., who owns a famous
bit at Ratnapura; a magnificent sapphire and large cat’s-eye
by Mr. Magdon Ismail, J.P., a leading gem merchant ; and
the lapidary’s corundum by Mr. P. E. Pieris, C.C.S. The
Government has also on view a collection of Mineralogical
specimens prepared by Mr. A, K. Coomaraswamy, B.Sc.,
writer of thearticle on “Mineral Resources.”