Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-05-05
AN EAST INDIA ANECDOTE.

1t may be necessary TO inform the reader
that the drink called today, one the strong
est and most intoxicating liquors in India,
consists ofthe sap Of the cocoa trees. The
process OF obtaining the liquor is simple
The toddy collector leaves his dwelling after
sunset, and seeks the ,hckest cocoa woods,
climbs up and cuts notches in the bark Of
such trees as seem likely to yield the most
Juice. Under each notch he affixes small
Jar to receive the liquid, which, if drank in-
stan,lv, is one Of the mildes, beverages pos.
sble, bu, If left during few days TO fermcnt
in the sun, becomes the most ardent spirit
known.
An incident connected with person who
followed the profession Of .oddy collector,
happened, whilst was IN the country, the
details of which is shortly as follows: The
individual IN question had left his cottage,
which was situated in cinnamon grove in
the island Of Ceylon, little more than half an
hour, when native pedlae called there 10
exhbi, his tempting wares, and to solicit a
lodging for the night. The collectors wife,
whose whole soul was wrapped up in the idea
of fincry, was delighted to let him in. Her
bangles and .joyes, which had hitherto been
the pride Of her life, were now eclipsed, and
she sighed with envy as she saw all her for.
mer notions Of grandeur fade before the con.
tents of the wanderers pack. Not daring
however, to purchase without her husband.
approval, she was to allow the pedlar TO res
himself on the bench beneath the door porcl
AN ornament common in Ccylon cottages
jim the hope Of her husbands return in the
evening.
After deposiing his valuable knapsacl
beneath his head, the pedlar fell into SCUM
sumber, from which he was aroused b,
hearing a door creak-his sleep being like
most Of his tribe, so light, that tine slightes
noise was calculated to disturb it. Onopen
ening his eyes, he beheld his hostess with he
head protruding through the cottage door, al.
ientively watching her guest. On seeing
him stir, she made shor, apology for ava
+ kenine him, and retired. The ilneran, ven
der took il into his head, however, that al
was not right; so, after short time, b.
again effected to sleep, INDUCING in one Q
those doses when outward objects are visi
BILE, though indislinclly seen by the wear.
, watcher. In about an hour after, by tn
strong shadow from an unclouded moon tn
poor man saw some object approaching eau
f tiously from the opposite direction. He sup
posed it 10 be the collector returning to hi
. home but looking up, to his dismay he per
ceived the woman stealihily drawing near
with long cocoa knife in her hand. In a
, instant he was Oh his legs to confront her,
She appeared somewhat startled, but de
clarsd she had been IN the woods seeking he
husband, and tina, the knife which she hel
, was for the purpose of cutting down som
lars in the vicinity. The suspeciing pedla
, much doubling her story, but affecting to be
lieve it, no saw her enter the cottage an
quietly shut the door. No sooner was sh
within, however, than the traveller Instant
climbed small tree, and took up his abod
amid the branches. Here he had been scat
: cd for some time, when he beheld the todd
collector calmly returning home laden wit
' his utensils.
Worn out apparently by his exer'ions, an
tempted by the beauty Of the night, when h
n came to his door he paused a short time :
! and sitting down on the bench lately occu
pied by the native merchant, he seemed I
! fall into train of deep thought. Present.
d an ifdisinclined to enter the house, he ma
= a sort Of pillow Of his well filled bag, and COY
h cred his face, as is usual throughout the Eas
with his camberbund. he fell into dee
1. sleep.