It is not to be supposed that the search for gems would have been thus
persevered in unless it was found to be remunerative; but it is a
curious fact that no Englishmen are ever to be seen at work at this
employment. The natives would still continue the search, were they
permitted, upon the "Vale of Rubies;" but I warned them off on
purchasing the land; and I have several good specimens of gems which I
have discovered by digging two feet beneath the surface.

The surface soil being of a light, peaty quality, the stones, from
their greater gravity, lie beneath, mixed with a rounded quartz gravel,
which in ages past must have been subjected to the action of running
water. This quartz gravel, with its mixture of gems, rests upon a stiff
white pipe-clay.

In this stratum of gravel an infinite number of small, and for the most
part worthless, specimens of gems are found, consisting of sapphire,
ruby, emerald, jacinth, tourmaline, chrysoberyl, zircon, cat's-eye,
"moonstone," and "star-stone." Occasionally a stone of value rewards
the patient digger; but, unless he thoroughly understands it, he is apt
to pass over the gems of most value as pieces of ironstone.

The mineralogy of Ceylon has hitherto been little understood. It has
often been suggested as the "Ophir" of the time of Solomon, and
doubtless, from its production of gems, it might deserve the name.

It has hitherto been the opinion of most writers on Ceylon that the
precious metals do not exist in the island; and Dr. Davy in his work
makes an unqualified assertion to that effect. But from the
discoveries recently made, I am of opinion that it exists in very large
quantities in the mountainous districts of the island.

It is amusing to see the positive assertions of a clever man upset by a
few uneducated sailors.

A few men of the latter class, who had been at the gold diggings both
in California and Australia, happened to engage in a ship bound for
Colombo. Upon arrival they obtained leave from the captain for a
stroll on shore, and they took the road toward Kandy, and when about
half-way it struck them, from the appearance of the rocks in the uneven
bed of a river, called the Maha Oya, "that gold must exist in its
sands." They had no geological reason for this opinion; but the river
happened to be very like those in California in which they had been
accustomed to find gold. They accordingly set to work with a tin pan
to wash the sand, and to the astonishm