An Account of the Interior of Ceylon, and of its Inhabitants
With Travels in that Island

This 1821 account, by a pre-eminent doctor and scholar, details the natural history and culture of early nineteenth-century Ceylon.

John Davy (Author)

9781108046695, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 June 2012

574 pages, 44 b/w illus. 2 colour illus. 2 maps
29.7 x 21 x 3 cm, 1.36 kg

John Davy (1790–1868), the younger brother of the chemist Sir Humphry Davy, published this account of Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) in 1821. An army surgeon and later Fellow of the Royal Society, he also wrote books on the Ionian Islands and the West Indies (also reissued in this series) and edited his brother's collected works. This book is a detailed study based on interviews with the islanders and Davy's own observations during his four-year visit. Part I is an overview of the natural history of the island - including its geography, geology, zoology and climate - as well as its people, demography, political system and culture, including architecture, craftwork and languages. Part II details Davy's travels within the country. With a number of beautiful reproductions of native drawings, as well as Davy's own, the work remains a rich resource for the insights of a Victorian polymath into early nineteenth-century Ceylon.

Preface
Part I. An Account of the Interior of Ceylon, and of its Inhabitants: 1. Name. Geographical outlines. Rocks. Minerals. Soils. Springs
2. Monsoons. Rains. Rivers. Temperature. Meteors. Miasmata
3. Snakes. Experiments on their poison. Ceylon leech
4. Population. Castes
5. Subdivisions of the interior. Old form of government. Kandyan court. Its ceremonies and festivals
6. Laws. Judicial proceedings. Land-tenures
7. Singalese system of the universe. Boodhoos. Goutama Boodhoo. Priests of Boodhoo. Worship of gods and demons. Doubtful points of the religion of Boodhoo
8. Singalese language. Literature. Music. Arithmetic. Weights. Measures. Currency. Astrology. Medicine. Painting. Statuary. Architecture. Jewellery. Iron-smelting. Blacksmiths. Saltpetre. Gunpowder. Pottery. Weaving. Agriculture
9. Domestic habits and manners. Marriage rites. Polygamy. Treatment of children. Ceremony of giving names. Unjust accusations. Funeral rites. Character of the Singalese
10. Sketch of the history of Ceylon, from the earliest period on record to the present times
Part II. Travels in the Interior of Ceylon: 1. Set out from Colombo, for Adam's Peak. Border-country. Ratnapoora. Approach to Adam's Peak. Palabatula. Ascent of the mountain. Prospect from the summit. Description of the peak. Pilgrims, and their mode of worship. Descent. Miscellaneous remarks on the mountain
2. Departure form Colombo for Kandy. Avishavellè. Sittawakka. Ruwenwellè. Mode of travelling of the governor. Fort King. Elephant-snare. Amanapoora. Approach to Kandy. Description of Kandy. Excursion into Doombera. Nitre-cave of Memoora. Leave Kandy for Trincomalie. Atgalle Pass. Fort McDowall. Description of country between Nalandé and Mineré. Lake of Mineré. Description of country between Mineré and Kandellé. Lake of Kandellé. Return from Trincomalie to Kandy. Breaking out of rebellion. Tranquility restored. Return to Colombo
3. Departure from Colombo for Ouva. Description of country between Avisahavellé and Ratnapoora, between Ratnapoora and Balangoddé, and Balangoddé and Kalapahané. The Idalgashena Pass. Velangahena. Himbleatawellé. Badulla. Namina-cooli-kandy. An instance of heroism. Passera. Alipoota. Excursion into the Mahaweddahratté of Ouva and into Welassey. Description of country between Alipoota and Katragam. Katragam. Description of country between Katragam and Gampaha. Nitre-cave near Weleway. Kirriwannagammé. Return to Upper Ouva. Dambawinné. Fort McDonald. Description of country between Fort McDonald and Maturatta. Hints on the improvement of the interior. Nitre-cave in the valley of Maturatta. Hangranketty. Meddawallatené. Koornagalle
4. Excursion through Upper Boulatgammé into Kotmalé. Pouhalpittyé. Dimbola. Ascent of the mountains between Kotmalé and Upper Ouva. Neuraellyia-pattan. Descent to Fort McDonald. Explanation of some peculiarities of Upper Ouva. Appearance of the country between Fort McDonald and Maturatta. Excursion from Kandy into Matelé. Description of Dambooloo Wiharé. Teldenia. Return to Colombo through the Seven Korles
Part III. Observations on the Effects of the Climate and on the Diseases of Ceylon
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]