John Davy (1790-1868), an army surgeon, published this work in 1821, based on interviews and observations during a four-year visit. Containing an overview of the island's natural history and the culture of its people, along with an account of Davy's travels, the work offers insights into early nineteenth-century Ceylon.

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