CEYLON IN 1893,* THE volume before us is an improved
and enlarged edition of a work which was originally published in 1883, and reissued in 1884 and 1887. As a handbook for those who are likely to have any commercial relations with Ceylon, or to settle there as planters, orotherwise, it will prove invaluable, while tourists and arcbmologists will also find in it much useful information not easily attainable elsewhere. Ceylon has long been celebrated as one of the most beautiful and fertile islands of the Indian seas, and enjoyed a high state of civilisation in comparatively early times. Commencing with Solomon, "of whose Ophir and Tarehish many believe Ceylon to have formed a part," Mr. Ferguson briefly notices some of the more important events before the arrival of the Portuguese and the Dutch ; notices the condition of the island at the time of the British occupa- tion ; and then treats in detail of the changes and improve- ments effected during the present century under the numerous able Governors who have made roads, built bridges and rail- ways, and opened up a country covered till lately by jungle, traversed by few tracks save elephant-paths. A long account is given of the various industries of Ceylon, especially of the rise, progress, and decadence of the coffee industry, which, having been almost destroyed by the coffee-leaf disease, has now been to a large extent supplanted byother crops, more especially by tea, for which the island seems peculiarly adapted, though the author does not mention the fancy prices realised by small consignments of special quality a year or two ago. Half the work consists of appendices, consisting mainly of reprints of lectures, &c., or extracts from books, but partly of original matter. Some of these deal with subjects already discussed in the body of the work, or treat of matters of merely ephemeral interest, while others are of greater interest and importance. Among the latter are the sections treating of Christianity and missions ; Mr. Ferguson's review of the Bishop of Colombo's work on Buddhism in Ceylon, a book written from a very fair and liberal standpoint ; an account of the buried cities of Ceylon, and of recent excavations and discoveries ; the late Sir William Coulon in 1893, iv nZuding the Progrose of the Island since Y863, ite. By John Frranson. With Mao and illustrations. • London : John Haddon and CO.; Colombo : A. M. and J. Ferguson. Gregory, and the Ceylon Museum ; types of races and portraits of amusing Ceylon characters ; glossary of native words in Sanserit, Pali, Sinhalese, and Tamil, &c. But perhaps the most important passage in the whole volume is to be found in the Hon. Sir Arthur Gordon's remarks (pp. 224-26), apropos of a lecture on Ceylon, delivered by Mr. Ferguson in 1892 before the Royal Colonial Institute, in which Sir Arthur insists on the importance of preserving a reserve of forest above 5,000 ft. Those who know the results of destroying, or permitting the destruction, of forests in other tropical countries—(of which St. Helena, small as it is, and partly for that very reason, furnishes one of the most striking examples)—will not think that we have over-estimated the im- portance of this point.
In future editions of this book, we think the author can render it even more valuable, without materially increasing its bulk, by weeding the appendix of superfluous matter, and incorporating it as far as possible with the body of the work, and by enlarging some chapters, and adding others. The pre- European history of Ceylon might be incorporated to some extent with the sections on Buddhism and Archasology ; some account might be given of the Indian legends of the Ramayana ; and a much fuller account is needed of the races and religions of Ceylon, written from a more sympathetic standpoint than Mr. Ferguson has adopted, especially as he is inclined to dis- parage Buddhism by dwelling on the inconsistencies of its professors,—inconsistencies easily paralleled, unfortunately, among professing Christians in Christian countries. Natural history is almost totally omitted, but might well form an interesting chapter, though no more than the outlines of so vast a subject could be touched on in a limited space. But considering the importance of economic natural history to the planter, a planter's manual, as Mr. Ferguson's book must to a large extent be considered, is hardly complete with- out fuller references to the planter's enemies, both animal and fungoid. Another very useful feature of the book would be a carefully selected bibliography of the most important books and papers on Ceylon, accompanied, where necessary, with occasional remarks pointing out the"character and scope of the book. The short list of recent books on p. 224 is wholly inadequate. The book is well printed, and profusely illus. trated with portraits of Governors and natives, and views of scenery and antiquities, &c. ; and reflects great credit on the Colonial enterprise and workmanship which has produced it.
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