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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — GEYLON
The establishment of British forces in Ceylon in 1912-13 was 1,283 ; in- cluding 928 Colonial troops. The Colonial contribution in 1912-13 was 94,500/.
Production and Industry.
The estimated area of the colony is 16,307,940 acres, 2, 800, 000 acres being under cultivation, and 660,000 acres pasture land. Of this, 644,763 acres were (1911) under rice, 96,984 under other grains, 1,512 under coffee, 34,535 under cacao, 457,277 under tea, 253 under cinchona, 1,032,282 under cocoa- nuts, 44,584 under cinnamon, 14,374 under tobacco, and 184,551 under rubber. 'Cardamoms, coca, and camphor are also produced ; cotton, mango, and various fruits and vegetables are being introduced. Live stock, 1911, 4,715 horses, 1,465,410 horned cattle, 90,844 sheep, 195,155 goats, and 86,558 pigs. There is a Government Dairy and Model Farm, possessing over 200 head of cattle, imported from Scinde. In 1911 there were roughly 420 plumbago mines. Ceylon contains also gold, monazite, thorium, and mica. Moonstones, rubies, cat's-eyes, sapphires, &c., are worked. There are 2,159 gem- quarries. The pearl fisheries which were leased to a company for a term of 20 years, from January 1, 1906, at an annual rent of 310,000 Rs. have been resumed by the Government. Native manufactures are weaving, basket work, tortoise-shell boxes, &c., earthenwares, jewellery, metal work, lacquer work, carving, &c.
Commerce.
Years
1906 1907 190S
Imports 1
Exports -
8,233,528 8,621,117 8,086,127
&
7,501,127 8,638,000
8,678,020
Years
1909 1910 1911
Imports!
8,918,808 10,901,338 10,960,386
Exports 1
&
9,801,816 11,104.607 12,135,265
1 Including bullion and specie.
The values of imports and exports are declared, and represent the wholesale values at the place of import or export. Declarations are subject to scrutiny and penalty. The Chamber of Commerce, as representing the trade of the island, assists by supplying the value on which a rated duty is levied. Quantities of imports are ascertained from invoices or by actual examination ; of exports, from declarations and by examination of the shipping documents, shippers being liable to penalties for misstatement. The origin and destination of ^oods are also obtained from the shipping documents. In some cases, however, goods intended for transhipment abroad are so entered, e.g. to New York, via London. The transit trade includes all goods transhipped direct in port, as well as goods landed into transhipment warehouses. The transit trade of Colombo has largely increased of late years, but as no bills of entry are required in respect of transhipment goods, the returns as to quantity are only approximately correct, and no returns as to value can be prepared.
Exports in 1911— cacao, 158,052^. ; cinnamon, 139,086Z. ; coir (and manufactures). 176,174Z. ; copra, 878,189Z. ; cocoa-nut oil, 876,371^. ; tea, 5,660, 020Z. ; plumbago, 443,754^. ; cocoa-nuts, 477,876^. ; areca nuts, 161,534Z. ; rubber, 2,428, 486?. . r. ^ e.^.-,
Imports in 1911— cotton manufactures, 719,538^. ; rice, 3,027,302/. ; coal and coke, 788,574Z. ; spirits, 109,047?. ; sugar, raw and refined, 275,048?.; manures, 446,763?. ; bullion and specie, 508,113?.
According to Ceylon returns the total imports from the United Kingdom in 1911 amounted to 2,"896,252?., and exports to 5,823,973?.
