(Encyclopedia) moonstone, an orthoclase feldspar, found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Madagascar (and formerly in the St. Gotthard district of Switzerland). In spite of its pronounced cleavage, it is…
(Encyclopedia) Nuwara EliyaNuwara Eliyan&oobreve;vˈərə āˈlĭyə, n&oomacr;rāˈlēə [key], town (1990 est. pop. 26,000), S Sri Lanka. A hill resort (alt. 6,194 ft/1,889 m) and health center in a…
(Encyclopedia) spinel, magnesium aluminum oxide, MgAl2O4, a mineral crystallizing in the isometric system, usually as octahedrons. It occurs as an accessory mineral in basic igneous rocks, in…
(Encyclopedia) Diemen, Anton vanDiemen, Anton vanänˈtōn vän dēˈmən [key], 1593–1645, Dutch colonial official. As governor-general for the Dutch East India Company in the East Indies after 1636, he…
(Encyclopedia) DravidiansDravidiansdrəvĭdˈēəns [key], name sometimes given to the peoples of S and central India and N Sri Lanka who speak Dravidian languages. They are so called for purely…
(Encyclopedia) Parakrama Bahu IParakrama Bahu Ipäräkˈrəmə bäˈr&oomacr; [key], fl. 12th cent., Sinhalese king of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka; 1153–86). He was the first to unite the island under one…
(Encyclopedia) Jarring, GunnarJarring, Gunnargŭnˈär yärˈĭng [key], 1907–2002, Swedish diplomat. He entered diplomatic service during World War II and was minister to India (1948–51), Ceylon (now Sri…
(Encyclopedia) umkokola, small, thorny S and E African tree (Dovyalis caffra, also called kei-apple), widely cultivated in its native area for the round or oval bright yellow fruits. Their juicy pulp…
(Encyclopedia) cat's-eye, gemstone that displays a thin band of reflected light on its surface when cut as a cabochon. Its name is derived from its supposed resemblance to the eye of a cat. The…
(Encyclopedia) Castellani, Sir AldoCastellani, Sir Aldoälˈdō käsˌtəläˈnē [key], 1877–1971, British-Italian bacteriologist, b. Florence, Italy. He demonstrated the cause and mode of transmission of…
