ver,
among the ruins of Pollanarua a curious instance of the power of the
smallest apparent magnitude to destroy the works of man. At some
remote period a bird has dropped the seed of the banian tree (ficus
Indicus) upon the decaying summit of a dagoba. This, germinating has
struck its root downward through the brickwork, and, by the gradual and
insinuating progress of its growth, it has split the immense mass of
building into two sections; the twisted roots now appearing through the
clefts, while the victorious tree waves in exultation above the ruin:
an emblem of the silent growth of "civilization" which will overturn
the immense fabric of heathen superstition.

It is placed beyond a doubt that the rice-growing resources of Ceylon
have been suffered to lie dormant since the disappearance of her
ancient population; and to these neglected capabilities the attention
of government should be directed.

An experiment might be commenced on a small scale by the repair of one
tank--say Kandellai, which is only twenty-six miles from Trincomalee on
the highroad to Kandy. This tank, when the dam and sluices were
repaired, would rise to about nine feet above its present level, and
would irrigate many thousand acres.

The grand desideratum in the improvement of Ceylon is the increase of
the population; all of whom should, in some measure, be made to
increase the revenue.

The government should therefore hazard this one experiment to induce
the emigration of the industrious class of Chinese to the shores of
Ceylon. Show them a never-failing supply of water and land of
unlimited extent to be hid on easy terms, and the country would soon
resume its original prosperity. A tax of five per cent. upon the
produce of the land, to commence in the ratio of 0 per cent. for the
first year, three per cent. for the second and third, and the full
amount of five for the fourth, would be a fair and easy rent to the
settler, and would not only repay the government for the cost of
repairing the tank, but would in a few cars become a considerable
source of revenue, in addition to the increased value of the land, now
worthless, by a system of cultivation.

Should the first experiment succeed, the plan might be continued
throughout Ceylon, and the soil of her own shores would produce a
supply for the island consumption. The revenue would be derived direct
from the land which now produces nothing but thorny jungle. The import
trade of Ceylon