Mower County transcript., 1869-12-16
9orfi9,t.
CEYLON,
Interosting Scenes and Incidents.
From tho Overland MONTHLY.

Interesting Scenes and Incidents.
From tho Overland Monthly.
On overy side nature seemed teeming
With life aud motion, as we journeyed on
ward past clusters of tho yo-
lrsa superba, orchids, and climbing
,lants, which hung in iestoons from the |
Insects of the most bril-.
liant Iustre hung on the leaves, or hovered
bout the trees, while birds of varied plu.
mage fitted across our path. We stopped |
It different villages, where refreshments
we're obtained in the shape of coffee and
ice-cakes, and the delicious king cocoanut,
he water of which medicated with q dash
If ,fcognac, thought quite equal to cham
oagne. As we proceeded. q lazy
:attlesnake might be observed drag
ying his weary length across the road,
Or climbing the side OF some native hut,
under no apprehension of violence, as the
natives are forbidden by their religion to
take life in any shape. This code is not,
however, always adhered to, since they are
readily reused to anger, and revenge them
selves in a cruel manner on anything that
has injured them. Thus, on one occasion,
while was riding in the jungle near Rance,
on the south coast, observed wounded
alligator bound by ropes to q tree. 1t ap-
pears he had committed sundry depredations
on cattle; and altho' pierced by half dozen
bullets while in the water, he exhibited suf-
ficient vitality to make extraordinary efforts
to escape, after being dragged ashore. A
batch Of natives were amusing themselves
by inAiciing prodigious whacks on his car
cass with huge billets Of wood, with ap-
parently but little effect. One aggrieved
party was in the act of making furious
onslaught, when the monster, by sudden
flank movement, caught him right amid.
ships, and sent him bowling distance of
several yards. It was manifest that the de-
stroyer of cattle was not to be done 10 death
by any amount of hammering; so he was
left attached to the tree, and for q month
afterward his mortal remains diffused an
did not SAVIOR Of ''gales from Araby the
BEST"
At Bentotte, the halfway house, the
midday meal is taken, and q certain degree
of rest afforded. which by this time has
become necessary. In the cool and COM
Portable rest house We found no difficulty
in satisfying the cravings of hunger. and
the more importunate demands Of thirst.
The river is here crossed by bridge of
boats. which is occasionally swept away or
injured by heavy freshets, which bring
down heavy pieces of timber, and some
times small islands, against the bridge
Ten miles further on We arrived at Caltura.
where are the remains of an old Dutch
fort, and in the vicinity of which are the
caves where species of swallow constructs
the famous edible birds nests, 30 much
valued as q table luxury by the Chi
nese. The village is distinguished for its
extensive arrack distllleries. In the vast
topes of cocoanut palms from whence these
distilleries are supplied may be seen the
operations of the toddy-drawer, as he rap
idly ascends, descends. or runs along the
numerous lines that connect one tree with
another. Within eight miles of Colombo
the road runs through the cinnamon gar
dens. The aroma SO much lauded by voy.
ayers as emanating from this famous laurel
is, when close to it. anything but agreeable
to the olfactory nerves; and the vaunted
plant itself is by no means an imposing
shrub. Its cultivation has deteriorated con-
siderably OF late years, owing to the monop-
oly at one time exercised by the government,
and, subsequently, to the heavy impost
levied on the trade. Driving across the
Galleface, and entering the fort by the
south gate, we arrived about four o'clock
in Colombo, the seat of government. The
English society here is not such that q
stranger will appreciate, unless he possesses
introductions of certain character; but he
can find ample ndinteresting employment
for his time in rides and drives about Co.
lombo a. its neighborhood.
Shortly after my arrival I accompanied q
friend on visit to his estate, few miles
beyond Eegombo. The heat was intense,
aud the lowering Of the dark, leadeu
clouds portended the setting in of the
monsoon. After q pleasant ride of several
miles. we reached his bungalow, which
stood on an eminence, just as o few heavy
drops of rain gave notice of the impending
storm. An ayah, or native nurse
was carrying his child in the veranda al
we entered; but we had scarcely beer
! seated before flash of lightning, followed
by terrific crash of thunder, struck the
house. We heard . scream, and the father
rushed into the veranda- There was thu
ayah lying stone dead, and the infant or
the ground short distance from her. W.
picked the little one up: and found il unin'
jured. These tropical storms, although
continuance, and the effect they have in
clearing the atmosphere is delightful. Veg
citation revives, and animal life, which 70,
O time had been dormant, breaks into
renewed activity. The land leechel
become especially troublesome after {
shower, when these pests of the jungle at
tack the traveller in myriads. Though he il
mounted on horseback, they will quickly
ascend the legs of the horse while in mo
ton and fasten on to the rider before ht
becomes aware of their existence; and it il
not desirable to remove them until they
have drunk their full of blood. for fear O.
causing an after-sore. Silk leggings are
the best protection, and are generally
adopted in those districts where these vora
cious creatures abound. Though venom
ous reptiles are SO numerous in every part
of the island, the casualties caused by then
are by no means SO common as might be
supposed. The most detestable of these
to my mind, were the flying frogs, so calleG
from their capability Of springing from ont
tree to another. They are green, and very
poisonous, principally infesting remote
clumps of cocoanut trees They give ven
to most disagreeable squeaks as they lear
from branch to branch, and this inhar
| monious sound jars on the nervous system
of those acquainted with the habits Of the
reptiles.
The highway to tho coffee districts is th<
Handy road, which at all times, but chiefly
| in the coffee season, is scene of hustle
and activity. Day and night the landys
drawn by the small hump.backed oxen o.
the country traverse this road, and the bell,
on each cause an everlasting jingle, broker
only by the song of the driver, who, walk
ing between his conveyance and his bul
locks, stirs them up with q pointed stick
or witches their tails to increase theil
speed. Dreves of larger oxen, laden will
coffee from the mountains, passed US, ant
occasionally q colossal elephant wagon
drawn b. one or two elephants belonging
to the engineers department. This road
cut, as it must have been. at an enormou
expense, opens up the Kandyan countr,
through The Kaduganava Pass, and
presents magnificent specimen of
engineering Skill. Its completion
made hitherto inaccessible country prac
ticable for British troops; and since tina
time no difficulty with the warlike noun
taineers has occurred. The scenery as VI
ascended the mountain pass, and thence tt
Handy, is one of surprising magnifcence
The ancient capital Of the kings of Kand.
has little to recommend it, except its pres
tige and ruins. Its great curiosity is tn
Dalada, said to be the sacred tooth o
Buddha, for the possession of which have
Ocou W6koO AAuul0c10OAo "AAoS hAu w WAACA
unnumbered pilgrims have focked in al
ages to express their veneration. It is sale
by unbelievers to be only the tooth of {
pig, after all: but this en- vassant. TIL,
Botanical Gardens at Peredinaia are vel
worth seeing, as they are stocked with tn.
finest; exotic and indigenous plants and
trees to be found in any collection in thu
East. From Handy to Nenera ELLA, tho
sanitarium of Ceylon, the road is carried
to height of 6,000 feet above the sea-
The town Is built on the mountain plateau