PREFACE.
 

   THE first edition of this work was published by Messrs.

    Sampson Low, Marston, & Co., as "Ceylon in 1883."

A  second  edition, under the auspices  of the  same firm,

was called for in a few months, and came out as " Ceylon

in 1884."  The latter volume was out  of print for some

time  before  a  further issue  could  be made; but  the

Queen's Jubilee made it very appropriate  that a third

edition, much enlarged, should appear in 1887, (published

by Messrs.  John Haddon  &  Co.)  as " Ceylon  in  the

Jubilee Year."

   So  favourably was  this enlarged publication received,

that " out of print" has been the only answer to numerous

inquiries since the beginning of 1890;  and  therefore the

Author trusts that his succinct  and popular account of

what  is the most important—whether population, trade, or

resources be considered—of Her Majesty's Crown Colonies,

will be once again found to supply a felt  want.  Thrown

very much into the form of an Illustrated Handbook for

Visitors, this volume will be found  by all  interested in

the island (officials, merchants, planters, or home residents

with  relatives in the island) to contain late and reliable

information on a great variety of topics.   The  endeavour has

been  to bring all the chapters up to date, while several have

had considerable additions, and one or two have been well-

nigh  re-written.  The Appendix, again, with some fifteen

divisions, is almost entwely new, and includes the Lectures