be his game, and they should be pursued with the ardor
of the chase itself, and subsequently transferred to the gardens and
their real merits discovered by experiments.

But what can be expected from an apathetic system of government? Dyes,
fibres, gums may abound in the forests, metals and even gold may be
concealed beneath our feet; but the governor does not consider it a
part of his duty to prosecute the search, or even to render facilities
to those of a more industrious temperament. What can better exemplify
the case than the recent discovery of gold at Newera Ellia?

Here was the plain fact that gold was found in small specks, not in one
spot, but everywhere throughout the swamps for miles in the
vicinity--that at a depth of two or three feet from the surface this
proof was adduced of its presence; but the governor positively refused
to assist the discoverers ("diggers," who were poor sailors visiting
Ceylon), although they merely asked for subsistence until they should
be able to reach a greater depth. This may appear too absurd to be
correct, but it is nevertheless true.

At the time that I commenced these sketches of Ceylon the gold was just
discovered, and I touched but lightly upon it, in the expectation that
a few months of labor, aided by government support, would have
established its presence in remunerating quantities. The swampy nature
of the soil rendered the digging impossible without the aid of powerful
pumps to reduce the water, which filled the shaft so rapidly that no
greater depth could be obtained than eighteen feet, and even this at
immense labor.

The diggers were absolutely penniless, and but for assistance received
from private parties they must have starved. The rainy season was at
its height, and torrents fell night and day with little intermission.
Still, these poor little fellows worked early and late, wet and dry,
ever sanguine of success, and they at length petitioned the Government
to give them the means of subsistence for a few months--"subsistence"
for two men, and the assistance of a few coolies. This was refused,
and the reply stated that the government intended to leave the search
for gold to "private enterprise." No reward was offered for its
discovery as in other colonies, but the governor would leave it to
"private enterprise." A promising enterprise truly, when every
landholder in Ceylon, on referring to his title-deeds, observes the
reservation of all precious metals to