voirs, nothing could be more simple than to plant the whole lake
with rows of stakes. The wood is on the spot, and the rate of labor
sixpence a day per man; thus it might be accomplished for a
comparatively small amount.

This would not only increase the produce to an immense degree, but it
would also improve the purity of the collection, and would render
facilities for gathering the crop by means of boats, and thus obviate
the necessity of entering the water; at present the suffering caused by
the latter process is a great drawback to the supply of labor. So
powerful is the brine that the legs and feet become excoriated after
two or three days' employment, and the natives have accordingly a great
aversion to the occupation.

Nothing could be easier than gathering the crop by the method proposed.
Boats would paddle along between the rows of stakes, while each stick
would be pulled up and the salt disengaged by a single blow; the stick
would then be replaced in its position until the following season.

Nevertheless, although so many specimens exist of this accumulation,
the method which was adopted by the savage is still followed by the
soi-disant civilized man.

In former days, when millions occupied Ceylon, the demand for salt must
doubtless have been in proportion, and the lakes which are now so
neglected must have been taxed to their utmost resources. There can be
little doubt that the barbarians of those times had some more civilized
method of increasing the production than the enlightened race of the
present day.

The productive salt lakes are confined entirely to the south of Ceylon.
Lakes and estuaries of sea-water abound all round the island, but these
are only commonly salt, and do not yield. The north and the east
coasts are therefore supplied by artificial salt-pans. These are
simple enclosed levels on the beach, into which the sea-water is
admitted, and then allowed to evaporate by the heat of the sun. The
salt of course remains at the bottom. More water is then admitted, and
again evaporated; and this process continues until the thickness of the
salt at the bottom allows of its being collected.

This simple plan might be adopted with great success with the powerful
brine of the salt lakes, which might be pumped from its present lower
level into dry reservoirs for evaporation.

The policy of the government, however, does not tend to the increase of
any production. It is preferred to keep up th