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4,309,827 Rs.; and the Post Office Savings Bank deposits (1903) to 1,597,616 Rs.

The weights and measures of Ceylon are the same as those of the United Kingdom. The money of the country is the rupee of British India with cents in place of annas and pice; thus Ceylon has a decimal coinage.

Dependency.

The Maldive Islands, 500 miles west of Ceylon, are governed by an hereditary Sultan, who resides in the island of Mali, and pays a yearly tribute to the Ceylon Government. Next to the Sultan is the Fandiari, the head priest or judge, and besides him 6 Wazirs or Ministers of State. The Maldives are a group of 17 coral islets (atolls), richly clothed with cocoa-nut palms, and yielding millet fruit, and edible nuts.

Population estimated at about 30,000 Mohammedans. The people are civilised, and are great navigators and traders.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Ceylon. Blue Book of Ceylon. Annual Report on Ceylon.

Census of Ceylon, 1901. Colombo, 1902.

Colonial Office List. Annual. London.

Statistics of Ceylon; in 'Statistical Abstract for the Colonial and other Possessions of the United Kingdom.' Annual. London.

Report to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar. By Dr. Herdman. London, 1903.

Baker (Sir S. W.), Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon. 8. London, 1855.

Burrows (S. M.), The Buried Cities of Ceylon: a Guide-book to Anuradhapura, &c. London.-The Visitors' Guide to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. London.

Carpenter (E.), From Adam's Peak to Elephanta. 8. London, 1892.

Cave (H. W.), The Ruined Cities of Ceylon. New ed. London, 1900.-Golden Tips: Ceylon and its Tea Industry. London, 1900.

Chalmers (R.), A History of Currency in the British Colonies. London, 1893.
Clutterbuck (W. J.), About Ceylon. London, 1891.

Dechamps (E.), Carnet d'un Voyageur. Paris, 1892.

Delmas (E.), Java, Ceylon, les Indes. Paris, 1897.

Ferguson (J.), The Ceylon Handbook and Directory. 8. Colombo and London. Annual. Ferguson (J.), Ceylon in 1903. Illustrated. 5th Edition. London, 1904.

Gardiner (J. S.), The Fauna and Geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes. 2 vols. Cambridge, 1901-1904.

Geiger (W.), Tagebuchblätter und Reiseerinnerungen. Wiesbaden, 1897.

Gordon-Cumming (Miss E.), Ceylon. London, 1891.-Two Happy Years in Ceylon. 2 vols. Edinburgh, 1892.

Haeckel (E. H. P. A.), A Visit to Ceylon.
Leclerg (J.), Séjour dans l'Isle de Ceylan.
Murray's Handbook for India, Ceylon, &c.
Noblemaire (G.), En Congé. Paris, 1897.
Schmidt (E.), Ceylon. Berlin, 1897.

8. London, 1883.
Bruxelles, 1901.

2nd edition. London, 1894.

Tennent (Sir James Emerson), Ceylon: an Account of the Island, Physical, Historical and Topographical. 5th edition. London, 1860.

Christmas Island. See STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

CYPRUS.

High Commissioner.-Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman, K. C.M.G., appointed 1898; salary, 3,000l. Chief Secretary.-Captain Arthur H. Young, C.M.G. (8001.)

The island is the third largest in the Mediterranean, 60 miles from the coast of Asia Minor and 41 from the coast of Syria. It is administered by Great Britain, under a convention concluded between the representatives of Her Majesty and the Sultan of Turkey at Constantinople, June 4, 1878. British High Commissioner is vested with the usual powers of a colonial governor. He is assisted by an Executive Council, consisting of the Chief

The

Secretary, the King's Advocate, the Receiver-General. The Legislature consists of a Council of eighteen members, six being office holders-the Chief Secretary, the King's Advocate, the Receiver-General, the Chief Medical Officer, the Registrar-General and the Director of Agriculture-and twelve elected (for five years), three by Mohammedan and nine by non-Mohammedan voters. The voters are all male Ottomans, or British subjects, or foreigners wenty-one years of age, who have resided five years, and are payers of any of the taxes known as 'Verghis.' Municipal councils exist in the principal towns, elected practically by all resident householders and ratepayers. Those eligible to the council must be voters rated upon property of the annual value of from 10l. to 201., according to population.

Area 3,584 square miles. Population, 1901-121,066 males, 115,956 females; total, 237,022, exclusive of the military; per square mile, 66 13. Mohammedans numbered 51,309; Greek Church, 182,739; others, 2,974. The birth-rate was computed in 1890 at 33·4 per 1,000, and the death-rate at 24 per 1,000.

The principal towns (1901) are Nicosia (the capital and seat of government), 14,752; Larnaca, 7,964; Limasol, 8,298 (two chief ports); Famagusta (with Varoshia), 3,825; Papho (including Ktima), 3,134; Kyrenia, 1,336 in 1901. The island is divided into six administrative districts called respectively by the names of these six towns.

Excepting a gymnasium and 4 'high schools' for Greek-Christians, and an Idadi or high school' for Moslems, the schools of the island are of an elementary character. There is a Government inspector, and the Government contributes 4,4847. per annum to education. In 1903 there were 274 elementary Greek-Christian schools aided by the Government, with 17,853 scholars; and 123 Moslem schools, with 4,344 scholars, 3 Armenian schools, and 2 Maronite. Also 30 Christian and 36 Moslem schools maintained by endowments or by local contributions, without Government aid. Total number of elementary schools, 469 (159 Moslem and 310 Christian). Total enrolment 24,397: 5,163 Moslems and 19,234 Christians. There are 8 weekly newspapers in Greek and 1 in Turkish.

The law courts (reformed in 1883) consist of (1) a supreme court of civil and criminal appeal; (2) six assize courts, having unlimited criminal jurisdiction; (3) six district courts, having limited criminal jurisdiction and unlimited civil jurisdiction; (4) six magisterial courts with summary jurisdiction; (5) ten village judges' courts. In all, except supreme court, native (Christian and Mohammedan) judges take part. In the year 1898-99 the number of offences was 4,584; in 1899-1900, 5,831; serious crime, however, is decreasing; in 1895-96 there were 55 murders or attempts to murder; in 1899-1900, 14. The number of persons committed to prison in 1898-99 was 3,984; in 18991900, 3,982. The police force when at full strength consists of about 700 men. The revenue and expenditure for five years, ended March 31, were :

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Revenue is derived chiefly from tithes (in kind) on the cereals of the island, taxes on immovable property and trade profits, military exemption tax, sheep, goat, and pig tax, customs duties, excise, stamps, and court

fees, and a salt monopoly. Customs revenue 1900-01, 31,6097.; 1901-02, 32,9221.; 1902-03, 26,2857.; 1903-04, 32, 4687.

In 1898 there was no public debt, but in 1899 an advance of 314,000l. by the British Government for harbour, railways, and irrigation was authorised. A sum of 92,8007. is payable annually to the Sublime Porte under the convention of 1878. Annual grant from imperial funds to revenue, 1900-01, 32,0007.; 1901-02, 16,000l.; 1902-03, 30,0007.; 1903-04, 87,0007.

Cyprus is essentially agricultural. Chief products in 1903 wheat, 2,445,641 bushels; barley, 3,907,117 bushels; vetches, 157,329 bushels ; oats, 475,705 bushels; olives, cotton. Grapes are produced in large quantities, but the amount cannot be stated. Other products are carobs, fruit, linseed, silk, cheese, wool, hides. In 1898 there were 62, 174 horses, mules, and asses, 47,242 cattle. In 1903, 215, 280 sheep, and 239,348 goats. One-third of cultivable land under cultivation. Irrigation works have been constructed from the loan of 60,000l. granted by the Imperial Parliament. Gypsum, terra umbra and marble are found in abundance; mining for copper has commenced. Sponge fishery yielded sponges valued at 5,5881. in 1902, and The commerce, exclusive of specie, and the shipping for five calendar

6627. in 1903.

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The import value is that at the port of arrival, and includes cost, freight, and other charges; the export value is that at the port of shipment when the goods are ready for exportation. Quantities and values are ascertained from declarations by importers and exporters, verified in the case of dutiable imports by actual weighing and measuring. countries of origin and of destination of goods are also obtained from declarations checked by invoices or bills of lading when necessary.

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The import duties are in general specific with provision for 10 per cent. ad valorem duty on articles not minutely specified, but in some cases (e.g. arms and ainmunition) the duty is 25 per cent. ad valorem. The specific duties on cotton yarns and thread range from 4s. 4d to 7s. 73d. per cwt.; on cotton manufactures from 5s. 8d. to 10s. 8d. per cwt., while for unspecified cotton yarns and manufactures the duty is 10 per cent. ad valorem. On woollen yarns and thread the specific duty is 26s. Sd. per cwt.; on woollen, linen and silk manufactures there is an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. Similarly for iron work specified the rates are from 13s. 6d. to 21s. 94d. per ton, and for unspecified, 10 per cent. ad valorem. There are specific duties on alcoholic liquors, tobacco, and also on cocoa, coffee, tea, sugar, rice (17s. per ton), butter. cheese, bacon, while on other provisions the duty is 10 per cent. ad valorem. Fresh meat and fish, grain and flour are not named in the tariff list.

Imports from United Kingdom, inclusive of specie, in 1901, 154,6557. ; in in 1902, 61,2657.; in 1903, 83, 8421. Exports to United Kingdom, in 1901, 122,6297.; in 1902, 85,845l.; in 1903, 132,4457.

Chief exports-Wheat, barley, carobs, wine, cotton, raisins, silk cocoons, hides and skins, wool, cheese, vetches, animals, fruit and vegetables. The principal imports are-Cotton and woollen manufactures, tobacco, groceries, rices, iron, leather, petroleum, timber, sugar, soap, and copper manufactures.

According to the Board of Trade Returns the imports into the United Kingdom from Cyprus, and the exports of home produce from the United Kingdom to Cyprus in five years were to the following amount :

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Governor of Hong Kong.-Sir Matthew Nathan, R. E., K. C.M.G.; formerly Governor of the Gold Coast. Appointed Governor of Hong Kong, 1903. The Governor has a salary of 6,000l. sterling per annum.

Area and Population.

Hong Kong is situated off the south-eastern coast of China, at the mouth of the Canton River, about 40 miles east of Macao, and 90 miles south of Canton. The whole of Hong Kong island forms an irregular and broken ridge, stretching nearly east and west about 11 miles, its breadth from 2 to 5 miles, and its area rather more than 29 square miles, that is a third larger than Guernsey. It is separated from the mainland of China by a narrow strait, known as the Lyeemoon Pass, which does not exceed half a mile in width. The opposite peninsula of Kowloon, forming part of the mainland of China, was ceded to Great Britain by treaty in 1861, and now forms part of Hong Kong. The city of Victoria extends for upwards of four miles along the southern shore of the beautiful harbour. In view of requirements for the defence of Hong Kong a convention was signed at Pekin on June 9, 1898, leasing to Great Britain for 99 years from July 1, a portion of Chinese territory including the port of Kowloon, and land further inland, mainly agricultural, together with the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay and the island of Lan-tao. The British occupation of the new territory began in April, 1899. Its area is 376 square miles, with 100,000 inhabitants, exclusively Chinese. A survey of the territory is being executed and rolls of crown rents compiled; roads (about 18 miles) and bridges are being constructed; a police force of 172 men (27 European and 105 Indian) has been established; and the administration of justice has been organised (708 criminal accusations in 1901). The local revenue chiefly from land tax, drink and other licenses) in 1901 amounted to 53,890 dollars, and the expenditure to 354,260 dollars (including 174,141 on public works and 101,884 on police).

The population of Hong Kong, excluding the military and naval establish ments, was as follows at the census, taken in 1901 :

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The estimated population at the end of 1903 was: Chinese, 314,447; European and American, 6,893; other foreigners, 3,250; total, 324,590. The population of the naval and military establishments was 4,401 and 4,100, respectively, in 1903. Of the coloured population in 1901, 1,453 were Indians, and 233,263 Chinese, largely Cantonese; about one-third of the Chinese are British subjects by birth. Of the resident white population, exclusive of the military, police, naval establishment, &c., almost one-half are Portuguese by origin, and only one-third English. Next follow natives of Germany, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, and Norway, the remainder being divided among about sixteen nationalities. A considerable proportion of the Indian population are included in the military and police.

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