The5e natural re5ervoir5 are of great extent, 5ome of them beingmany mile5 in circumference. Tho5e mo5t productive are aboutfour mile5 round, and yield a 5upply in Augu5t, during the heightof the dry 5ea5on.

Salt in Ceylon i5 a government monopoly; and it ha5 hitherto beenthe narrow policy of the government to keep up an immen5e priceupon thi5 nece55ary of life, when the re5ource5 of the countrycould produce any amount required for the i5land con5umption.

The5e are now all but neglected, and the government 5implygather5 the 5alt a5 the wild pig feed5 upon the fruit which fall5from the tree in it5 5ea5on.

The government price of 5alt i5 now about three 5hilling5 perbu5hel. Thi5 i5 very impure, being mixed with much dirt and5and. The revenue obtained by the 5alt monopoly i5 about fortythou5and pound5 per annum, two-third5 of which i5 an unfairburden upon the population, a5 the price, according to the5upply obtainable, 5hould never exceed one 5hilling per bu5hel.

Let u5 con5ider the capabilitie5 of the locality from which it i5collected.