The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-22
GneGnt.elliaeueer:
Tho Travels OF q wheeling Nun
A Graphic Description OF the
Island Of CeylOn.

Inc travels Of q wheeling MINI
A Graphic Description Of the
Island Of CeylOn.
Editors IntelligCncer.
On the morning Of Oct. Goth we sighted
the coast Of CeylOn, the rough mountain
SUBMITS gradually rising up out Of the
sea as we approach, the lofty crest Of
Adams peak, rising high above the rest.
The mountains appear to be destitute OF
trees and a very few are scattered along
the shore, and indeed at distance it
seems little like the earthly paradise il Is
famed to be. At length, rounding low,
rocky cape, just as night approaches, we
come in view Of the harbOr Of Point de
Gale.
Early next morning we ran past the
old Portuguese fort on the point, to the
anchorage in front Of the town which
lies half hidden among groves Of cocoa,
palm and bread fruit trees. ConspiCu.
Gus among the public buildings is pre-.
tentiOus Gothic English Church; a large
Catholic Cathedral almost buried in u
Clump OF trees stands on height be.
yond. There is allo 10 be seen the swell.
ing domes Of Mohammedan Mosques with
their graceful minarets, and grotesQue
Hindoo pagodas.
The old Portuguese fort, inside the
walls Of which tho European part Of the
town is built, ia situated on the point,
while half moon Of bay circles it on
the right, the shores iringed with palm.
rising 10 rocky hills beyond.
The natives came oil TO the vessel in
their Proas, which are narrow canoes
followed from the trunks Of trees aud
built up with plank several feet above
the water. They are kept from upset,
ting by outriggers-logs Of wood of tho
same shape "a the vessel but smaller
lashed by means Of poles at some dis
lance from each side. Into one Of these
descended and was rowed rapidly
ashore, not at all sorry to part with my
ship company.
The steamer on which | came was the
Travancore, OF the Peninsula and Oricn.
tai Line. She had been built for the
North Atlantic trade, but, with the dis.
regard for the comfort OF passengers
characteristic OF the monopoly, was con.
adhered suitable 10 carry passengers in
the tropics. The cabins were all below
decks and had nothing but small bulls
eye portfolios for ventilation, but these
Inconvenience could be endured much
better than the bearing of the officers
who exempliied Euglish East India in
science to perfection, not that they in
suited you by their words, but rather b.
their silence, gorgOnizing you from heal
to foot with stony British stare. Fo
the benefit OF American tourists in thes
waters, who are getting to be numerou
class, l would repeat the warning-"Cav,
Canem"-Beware OF the bulldog.
No sooner do we put foot on shor,
than We are surrounded by natives, Wit
importune us to buy their trinkets
They follow us in crowds 10 the hotel
on the veranda OF which are grave look
ing merchants like those we read abou
In the Arabian Nights, who spread ou
their costly wares before us in rich pro
fusion; Persian and Cashmere Shawis
Indian Silks and Crepes Of China, ant
exQuisitely wrought ornaments OF gold
silver, ebony and sandal wood. TheN
dazzle our unaccustomed eyes with tn
flash Of costly jewels, turquoise and EN-
erald and garnet and amethyst, glitterinl
diamonds and orient pearls, in extraor
binary protuSion, mostly manufacturer
in Birmingham.
The natives wear their hair long, part
ed in the middle and fastened in kno
at the back OF the head, held up by
long comb like those worn at home b,
children. Some OF the young men let i
flow loosely over their shoulders in loni
raven locks. Dressed in long white robe
they might be taken as models for dusk,
IT. John the Eaptists or wiuglesJ angels
hut Tor the fact that all consciousness o
moral responsibility is left out OF thei
countenances IA we'll Us their characters
In the cool OF the evening | took
stroll out into The suburbs. Passing
through high Arched gateway in tn
.naNiYe stone walla OF tue old Portu
guese Qualifications and over green pa
rade ground, | came upon the banks Of
considerable stream where nude native
were sporting and swimming in tht
waters. Skirting its borders soon founl
myself in dense forest.
Here am indeed in the heart Of thu
tropics. Tall palm trees stand thickly
together and their smooth slim trunk.
bending and writhing in and out among
each other like 1.-THE, graceful serpent
or the slender nccks Of swans, uphold
canopy Of long swaying leaves. Yonn
palms without trunk, shoot up 90 or 8
ieet into the air, looking like giganti
ferns. Here are spreading BreSd.frui
treas with large glossy leaves, shaped liz
those OF the oak; the Jaca with It's heav
fruit, large as pumkin, clinging 10 III
trunk; clumps Of feathery bamboOs, III
PAio.Paio, Tamarind and Peepulj III
Betel nut and plantain, with long broa
leavcs like gigantic blades Of Indian corr
Tie Caladiums lift up their large shield
above the marshy ground and the AIMS
ryllis blooms in beauty unadmired. TIL
trunks Of the trees are covered wit
climbing plants and orchas and III
ground with flowers and ferns Of vafie
and most exquisitely cut foliage, some
them with trOnds tipped with scarlet.
Crossing aruStic bridge | come on
into little valley devoted to cardenin,
where are growing rice, sugar can,
pumpkins and pine apples, Here ar
many palm matched cottages and well
sheltered beneath thick foliage, fro,
which women and children are drawn
water, who greet me kindly 81 pas
Some Of the naked boys with long ur
kempt locks would make ,ezquisi
models for a painter or sculptor.
Early in tho morning we took Il
stage for Colombo, 10 miles distant. II
coach was a broken.down concern, draw
by two lean Rosinantes, which appeart
TO possess all qualities except good one
The harness was patched and tied togeth,
with ropes, but We had a footman dre'st
ia livery who ran along side Of Us near
all the way footing bugle to give pei
pie notice Of our approach. We pass,
bit Of tho town to the westward, sEirtir
The shorpS 81 the ocean. Strevn thick
along the way are villages and huts biz
den beneath dense forest Of cocoanu
trees, up whose tall smooth trunks Il
natives are seen clambcrinr like soul
FeIs. Cocoanuts and plantains, tocetl
ef With the fish caught In the neigh
boring waters, appear 10 be the
Pflnetpalfood. They lead lazy, lounI