Chap. II Agriculture, Irrigation, Cattle, and Crops
Agriculture unknown before the arrival of Wijayo 429
Rice was imported into Ceylon in the second century B.C. 429
The practice of irrigation due to the Hindu kings 430
Who taught the science of irrigation to the Singhalese (note) 430
The first tank constructed B.C. 504 431
Gardens and fruit-trees first planted 432
Value of artificial irrigation in the north of Ceylon 432
In the south of the island the rains sustain cultivation 432
Two harvests in the year in the south of the island 432
In the north, where rains are uncertain, tanks indispensable 432
Irrigation the occupation of kings 434
The municipal village-system of cultivation 434
“Assoedamising” of rice lands in the mountains 434
Temple villages and their tenure 434
Farm-stock buffaloes and cows 435
A Singhalese garden described 435
Coco-nut palm rarely mentioned in early writings 436
Doubt whether it be indigenous to Ceylon 436
The Mango and other fruits 437
Rice and curry mentioned in the second century B.C. 437
Animal food used by the early Singhalese 438
Betel, antiquity of the custom of chewing it 438
Intoxicating liquors known at an early period 439