The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-22

to earn their food by the sweat Of their
brows. Ever and anon through 4 col.
lonade Of twisted trunks, we could see
the shimmering waters stretching far
away 10 the sonthward and catch glimpses
Of palm.crowned, rocky headlGnds iutiing
into the ocean, and low.lying Islands with
palm trees clinging In clusters to the bare
coral rocks. Now we cross quiet creek
or river by q bridge, from whence we
have view Of lovely tropical picture;
the luxuriRnt vegetation running down
into tho water, while above, the towering
trees wave their. heads high In air or
stoop TO dip their tresseB in the stream.
Now our road runs over marShy ground,
the surface Of which IL covered with the
rankest vegetation-a mingled mass Of
branches inextricAbly woven together by
endless varieties Of vines, some haunting
scarlet flowers, others blowing perfume
from their gay.colored trumpets, purple,
white, azure and golden; now we pass be-
meath precipices overhung by creeping
plants and long frondS Of ferns like ieath.
cry plumeS waving In the wind. Here 4
huge Banyan lifts up itA trunk Of inter-
tangled roots, and spreRds abroad branch.
es from which other roots descend and
form new stems to uphold united, wide
spread, leafy canopy.
We pass several school houses, in
which grave.looking, shaven priests are
sitting among the children who are study
ing from their books made Of palm leaves.
We see scalIolds made OF palm trunks, on
which are suspended wreaths Of flowers
and punches Of fruit, votive offerings on
the graves OF the dead.
Near evening we came to extensive
Cinnamon plantations, the shoots
sprinGing thickly from the old rootstalkS
and rows Of pineapples growing on each
side Of the road; then we pass the subur-
ban residences otthe English, surrounded
by beautiful gardens and groves, then
coming out on wide level green We be.
hold Colombo before US and the open
ocean beyond stretching far out toward
the setting sun.
In Colombo one may sec what ponder
Gus machinery is used TO move the Brit
iSh East India government. A greater
part Of the town appears TO be occupied
by their buildings, massive and costly as
is their wont, and filled with an idle
soldiery. had supposed that the bal.
anCe OF trade would be'largely in favor
Of Ceylon, rs the products sent to Eng.
land must be many times greater than
what they receive. Such is not the case
however. As the cashier Of one Of the
banks remarked, "They don't govern the
country for nothing"
We take the cars early in the morning
for Handy, which lies about seventy
miles in the interior. Our road at first
ran over the level plain crossing still
streams and stagnant lagoons. Far of
through the haze could be seen the undul-
ating line Of the mountain chain, sweep.
ing across the horizon to where on the
right the sharp summit Of Adams peak
pierced the sky. Following the course
Of quiet river whose CLASSY waters were
oyerhung by trees with their branches
woven together into a sOlid mass by ill.,
tertangled vines that try to leap from
shore TO shore, but falling, trail their
tresses in the stream,w approach the hills
whose sides and summits are covered with
densc mass of Jungle from tho uneven
surface (which the gigantic bodies Of
lofty trees shoot upward and spread
abroad their branches in the sky.
We commence ascending the mountain,
winding from side to side, beneath crags
and precipices and through dark tunnels,
with glimpses Of gorge and valley be.
meath, opening out into the plains which
stretch far away and are Loot in the ocean
fringed horizon. We reach the summit
Of the rocky ridge, and looking down the
mountain side gaze as one enchanted upon
the beautiful inland valley lying beyond
The railroad Clings 10 the mountain
side, running along the edge Of a fearful
precipiCe from whose foot an avalanche
Of vegetation rolls in an ever accumulat
ing mass into the valley below, threaten
ing to overwhelm the green fields OF rice
that are glowing with an almost golden
hue in the sunlight, in strong contrast tc
the dark verdure Of groves Of palms and
plantains in which are embosomed thu
palm.thntchcd villages OF the natives
The lower slopes OF the hills are dyke(
and terraced like fortresses, and arr
sown with rice; rome OF the small patChe
green with growing grain, others aoodeC
with water and shining like miniature
lakes, hanging on the steep.
The shadows Of flying clouds chase
each other across the valleys and over thu
rolling hills to the far of mountains
about whose brOws they gather in darR
rainy masses. Around us ia spread 1
varied Landscape, bold precipices ani
rocky peaks rising in most fantastic forms
temples and towers and domes and peak
ed pagodas, while all the wales between
are flooded with sunshine falling like thu
smile OF God upon sinless world.
This is said to be the site Of the orlgi
nal Garden OF Eden, and here are still
nude Adams and Ewes who, not having
eaten Of the forbidden tree of knowledge
know not their nakedness, and 6gurel
divinely beautiful in white flowing robe.
and long silken tresses waving in The
wind whom you might think were minis
tering angels, but you would be nightly
mistaken.
We pass through several coffee planta
| HOHel tHeH uehCeHu ltllO tne VAHeyI AHC
soon reach Handy, on the margin Of I
miniature lake. Here is situated the
Temple OF tho Holy Tooth Of Buddha
one OF the most sacred shrines Of his wor
shippers. The holy relic is incloSed in ,
casket watched over by hideous dragon.
with great google glass eyes. ltcAn only
be seen on certain holidays. Like mosl
religious relics this is also spurious, thu
original tooth having been destroyed louI
since by the Catholic Portuguese. Here i
also grove and temple dedicated to thu
Hindoo Goddess Kali, whose festival i!
celebrated periodically with great poml
and ceremony.
took a stroll round the lake, on thu
margin Of which are many beautiful
hooks with cottages enshrined. Her,
grow the TALBOT palms and Travellers
trees, whose leaves spread out like a 81
gantic fan. l see flying dragons fitting
from branch to branch.
passed through a coffee plantation
; The trees we're about ten feet in height
The fruit ia red berry, very much like
haw, clustering thickIy around the end
OF the branches. They appear to be IL
all stages Of growth, l learned with eur
prise that there was more coffee and Of 1
l. -