Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-17

CcLoNBO. Sept g.
better-in fact is worse-Off than Gale The bar-
Dor Is open to all the fury Of the sea and small
vessels, 20 keep clear of the greatest danger arc
Obliged tolay close IN shore. while the large crafs
anchor IN the Oting. As Gale must attribute it,
commercial Importance TO its convenience In the
hne OF steam intercourse. Colombo Is an important
ana az present the only outlet unless by Gale
which is out Of the way-for the immense snppli.s
OF coffee sent down from the central provinee =
lhls source OF trade, which Is yearly growing in
Saiee ana extent, II the great moving power OF
business here, and is destined to make CoIon6o
the great mart and market of CeylOu. This fact
however, VIII not detraet from the Importance OF
Halle IN IT'S way as this place is too far out Of th
line and too difficult Of approach TO uutiee stean,
ers|excePt local line. yet to be started-to H.
steam sbinnin w ~ R1aeuSaple combining the
OF the staples Of the island at this place woulf
speedy make Colombo the ruling city in the Fast
md the European inhbitants here Tiven I,
some lfe. Upon my arrival this morning founo
that four races were set down for this aherncon
the second during the week. Ofeourse. az the an,
pointed hour of four, visited the racing Grounds
which lay outside Of the fort on the GaIie ROAD
Ihe course Is Oyel. and about mile and a ouarter
IN leGgth-the last quarter being enclosed by a -
lght raillngo OF cane strips At the end stands the
Judge platform, rustic structure built of canc
and e0cco-nut wood. and heavily thatched ON
@ thls observed the Governor of the island and
several other official dignitaries a number ofof6-
GERS from the garrison AID representatives from
elNllhie, besides gOOdly galaxy Ofladies With
~ Iile IRterloS line OF the course where several
II
as ever have seen. There were Europeans. ladies'
@nd ventleIpen. attiFed in European fqshions srd
carriages. Iherc WcrU tfss4- - a 4. .I-s
about the color Of a quadroOn. and dressed VI
some instances like the Europeans; in others with
a coat, but no breeches--the latter want being
supplied by the cambOy IF the natives. There
were MOormen. with their long sack-like coats;
Chelties, dressed in white; Singhalese men, per-
fecty bare from the waist up. the women
dressed as the men. with the addition Of a small
Jacket; the low caste rugged with a simple cloth
around the loins, and nine tenths of the CHI idren
in fine specimens OF antc-fg leaf period. AssOca-
ted with this crowd were a number Of boys and
women selling beetle nuts. tobacco, cigars COCOA
nut toddy, arrack. bananas. and 50 forth. In ad-
ht0n TO the cries Of these small vendors. there
was bewldcTing din utvoices and languages Eu-
ropeans, Portuguese, Singalese. Tamil. and half
dozen others.
There we're four horses entered. At precisely
tour o'clock the first race took place between two
horses, the winner coming in about thirty yards
ahead. AZ Intervals 0fhalf an hour the otherraces
followed. In the third four horses participated,
he two leader eontesting the prize closely. The
ourth and last race was the best and the quickest.
None OF the races, however, were remarkable
'tili they gave much excitement TO the crowd. /
was most interested in the natives, who were in
iensely absorbed in betting in proportion their
means, Considerable sums changed hands. Ths
day s sports having finished. the crowd quietly dis
persed. As they passed by expressions % de-
hight on many cOunteuances indicated their good
luck, and numerous natives went to their homes
richer by enough rupees TO furnish curry an roo
for the next four weeks.