Ceylon and Its Capabilities - Tapa dura

J.W. Bennet was in the Ceylon civil establishment and wrote this account of the Island in 1843 when it was little known to the English. The compass of this work is vast. With the objective to present to the public a survey of its geological, mineral, social, commercial, judicial capabilities, this large work is divided into 51 chapters and 12 Appendices. Among the vast number of subject that the author describes are included a description of the soil, vegetable productions including dyes, medicinal plants, gums and naturalized exotics, wild and domestic animist, timber, fisheries, exports, climate, revenue civil and military establishments, missions, school, native festivals, roads, pilotage and sailing directions. The information was collected first hand by the author while conversing with priests, local chiefs, merchants, agriculturists, astrologers, mechanics, husband man, fisher man and others.