um rubrum_), of the deepest scarlet, and the great
fire fish (_Scorpaena miles_), of a brilliant red. Some are purple,
others yellow, and numbers with scales of a lustrous green are called
"parrots" by the natives; of these one (_Sparus Hardwickii_) is called
the "flower parrot," from its exquisite colouring--irregular bands of
blue, crimson and purple, green, yellow and grey, crossed by
perpendicular stripes of black. The pearl fishery, as indicated below,
is of great importance.

_Population_.--The total population of Ceylon in 1901, inclusive of
military, shipping and 4914 prisoners of war, was 3,578,333, showing
an increase of 18.8% in the decade. The population of Colombo was
158,228.

The population and area of the nine provinces was as follows:--

+--------------------------+-------------+----------------+
| District. | Population. | Area in sq. m. |
+--------------------------+-------------+----------------+
| | | |
| Western Province | 925,342 | 1,432 |
| Central Province | 623,011 | 2,299-1/2 |
| Northern Province | 341,985 | 3,363-1/4 |
| Southern Province | 566,925 | 2,146-1/4 |
| Eastern Province | 174,288 | 4,036-1/2 |
| North-Western Province | 353,845 | 2,996-7/8 |
| North Central Province | 79,110 | 4,002-1/4 |
| Province of Uva | 192,072 | 3,154-1/2 |
| Province of Sabaragamuwa | 321,755 | 1,901-1/8 |
| +-------------+----------------+
| | 3,578,333 | 25,332 |
+--------------------------+-------------+----------------+

The table of nationality gives the principal groups as follows:--

Europeans 9,509
Burghers and Eurasians 23,539
Low-country Sinhalese 1,458,320
Kandyan Sinhalese 872,487
Tamils 953,535
Moors (Mahommedan) 228,706
Malays 11,963
Veddahs (Aborigines) 3,971

Altogether there are representatives of some seventy races in Ceylon.
The Veddahs, who run wild in the woods, are the aborigines of the
island.

_Language_.--The language of nearly 70% of the population is
Sinhalese, which is nearly alli