The History of Ceylon

The island of Ceylon lies between 5o 56’ and 9o 50’ north latitude and between 80o 4’ and 82o east longitude. Its climate its vegetable mineral and marine riches have ever ranked it as one of the finest portions of the earth. In shape it faintly resembles a pear and it has been elegantly compared to a pearl-drop from the brow of India It stretches about 270 miles in length and has an average breath of nearly 100. Its superficial extent is upwards of 24600 miles and its circuit 750. The Gulf of Manaar separates its north-eastern coast from the shores of the continent whilst on all the other sides it is washed by the Indian Ocean. The sea-shore is in general level and monotonous but the greater part of the interior is diversified by mountains. These approach on the southern eastern and western sides to within about forty miles of the sea whilst in the northern part the level district extends for about seventy or eighty.