_Gold_ is found in minute particles at Gettyhedra, and in the beds of the Maha Oya and other rivers flowing towards the west.[1] But the quantity hitherto discovered has been too trivial to reward the search. The early inhabitants of the island were not ignorant of its presence; but its occurrence on a memorable occasion, as well as that of silver and copper, is recorded in the Mahawanso as a miraculous manifestation, which signalised the founding of one of the most renowned shrines at the ancient capital.[2]
[Footnote 1: Ruanwellé, a fort about forty miles distant from Colombo, derives its name from the sands of the river which flows below it,--rang-welle, "golden sand." "Rang-galla," in the central province, is referable to the same root--the rock of gold.]
[Footnote 2: _Mahawanso,_ ch. xxiii. p. 166, 167.]
_Nickel_ and _cobalt_ appear in small quantities in Saffragam, and the latter, together with _rutile_ (an oxide of titanium) and _wolfram_, might find a market in China for the colouring of porcelain.[1] _Tellurium_, another rare and valuable metal, hitherto found only in Transylvania and the Ural, has likewise been discovered in these mountains, _Manganese_ is abundant, and _Iron_ occurs in the form of magnetic iron ore, titanite, chromate, yellow hydrated, per-oxide and iron pyrites. In most of these, however, the metal is scanty, and the ores of little comparative value, except for the extraction of manganese and chrome. "But there is another description of iron ore," says Dr. Gygax, in his official report to the Ceylon Government, "which is found in vast abundance, brown and compact, generally in the state of carbonate, though still blended with a little chrome, and often molybdena. It occurs in large masses and veins, one of which extends for a distance of fifteen miles; from it millions of tons might be smelted, and when found adjacent to fuel and water-carriage, it might be worked to a profit. The quality of the iron ore found in Ceylon is singularly fine; it is easily smelted, and so pure when reduced as to resemble silver. The rough ore produces from _thirty_ to _seventy-five_ per cent., and on an average fully _fifty_. The iron wrought from it requires no puddling, and, converted into steel, it cuts like a diamond. The metal could be laid down in Colombo at £6 per ton, even supposing the ore to be brought thither for smelting, and prepared with English coal; but _anthracite_ being found upon the spot, it could be used in the proportion of three to one of the British coal; and the cost correspondingly reduced."