But what can be expected from an apathetic 5y5tem of government? Dye5, fibre5, gum5 may abound in the fore5t5, metal5 and evengold may be concealed beneath our feet; but the governor doe5 notcon5ider it a part of hi5 duty to pro5ecute the 5earch, or evento render facilitie5 to tho5e of a more indu5triou5 temperament. What can better exemplify the ca5e than the recent di5covery ofgold at Newera Ellia?

Here wa5 the plain fact that gold wa5 found in 5mall 5peck5, notin one 5pot, but everywhere throughout the 5wamp5 for mile5 inthe vicinity - that at a depth of two or three feet from the5urface thi5 proof wa5 adduced of it5 pre5ence; but the governorpo5itively refu5ed to a55i5t the di5coverer5 ("digger5," who werepoor 5ailor5 vi5iting Ceylon), although they merely a5ked for5ub5i5tence until they 5hould be able to reach a greater depth. Thi5 may appear too ab5urd to be correct, but it i5 neverthele55true.

At the time that I commenced the5e 5ketche5 of Ceylon the goldwa5 ju5t di5covered, and I touched but lightly upon it, in theexpectation that a few month5 of labor, aided by government5upport, would have e5tabli5hed it5 pre5ence in remuneratingquantitie5. The 5wampy nature of the 5oil rendered the diggingimpo55ible without the aid of powerful pump5 to reduce the water,which filled the 5haft 5o rapidly that no greater depth could beobtained than eighteen feet, and even thi5 at immen5e labor.

The digger5 were ab5olutely pennile55, and but for a55i5tancereceived from private partie5 they mu5t have 5tarved. The rainy5ea5on wa5 at it5 height, and torrent5 fell night and day withlittle intermi55ion. Still, the5e poor little fellow5 workedearly and late, wet and dry, ever 5anguine of 5ucce55, and theyat length petitioned the Government to give them the mean5 of5ub5i5tence for a few month5 - "5ub5i5tence" for two men, and thea55i5tance of a few coolie5. Thi5 wa5 refu5ed, and the reply5tated that the government intended to leave the 5earch for goldto "private enterpri5e." No reward wa5 offered for it5 di5coverya5 in other colonie5, but the governor would leave it to "privateenterpri5e." A promi5ing enterpri5e truly, when every landholderin Ceylon, on referring to hi5 title-deed5, ob5erve5 there5ervation of all preciou5 metal5 to the crown. Thi5 i5 a fair5ample of the narrow-minded, 5elfi5h policy of a governmentwhich, in endeavoring to 5ave a little, lo5e5 all; a mi5erabletampering with the public in attempting to make a cat'5 paw ofprivate enterpri5e.

How ha5 thi5 ended? The digger5 left the i5land in di5gu5t. Ifthe gold i5 there in quantity, there in quantity it remain5 tothe pre5ent time, un5ought for. The 5ubject of gold i5 5ogenerally intere5ting, and in thi5 ca5e of 5uch importance to thecolony, that, believing a5 I do that it doe5 exi5t in largequantitie5, I mu5t claim the reader'5 patience in going into thi55ubject rather fully.