Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-11-23
Life IN CeyIOn.

stay with Mr.. Stipperger, In his beautiful
villa CT Whist Bungalow. He says:
1.-THE charming villa of Colombo, where
L stayed the Grst two weeks In Ceylon, lies
at the northern end OF the city, or rather
OF the suburb, Mutwal, In an angle formed
by the sea and the mouth of the river Kel-
any Ganga.
From Colombo through the Pettah mat
i've quartef) and neighborhood il takes
fully an hour to reach Whist bungalow.
The solitary situation Of the villa, In the
midst of lovely scenery, far from the busy
city and its public gardens, Is one of the
sources OF the peculiar charm which the
quiet country house at once exercised upon
me. Whist Bungalow formerly was
merely small, simple house, hidden in
thick shrubbery. 1t was enlarged and
transformed into a stately country house
by later proprietor, Mr. Morgan, an adj
vocate. Dir. Morgan was a man OF pleas.
ure and spent the greater part of his for
tune in beautifying the villa-the little
''Mramare" of Ceylon-in O manner
worthy OF Its charming situation. The
large garden was planted with the most
splendid trees and ornamental shrubs. A
noble colonnade and airy verauda rose
around the enlarged house, and the lofty
saloons within were lu6urlously furnished.
For many years dinners and evening par
ties succeeded each other, much more
brilllant-if not so noisy and merry-than
the drinking bouts of the whIst-playIng
ofncers. 1t seems however, that Mr..
Morgan's colossal expenditure, and his
Lucullian mode of life. at last exceeded
even his large income, for on his death
his creditors seized on the villa, and were
glad that lis sale by suction restored TO
them at least a portion OF their money.
But now came turning point IN the history
OF the beautiful villa, and Its new pro-
prletor had not much pleasure in his pos
session. For the legend ran that the ghc sl
OF Mr.. Morgan, who had died sudde nly,
haunted the house every night. At 12I
O'clock, whether moonlight or not, there
was heard terrible noise; white forms
gllded through the spacious chambers.
winged spirits fitted through the columned
halls, and forms with glowing eyes wan
dered on the roof. Mr.. Morgan, as chief
spirit, Was SAID to lead the CHASTITY troop.
So Whist Bungalow had remained long
uninhabitated when my friend StipperEer
heard of il, and on 81 eng il determined
TO hire it. But at first not a servant could
be persuaded to live in the ILL famed house.
That was only possible when the supposed
ghosts had been proved to be of geological
origin. On the first night OF taking pos
session Mr.. Stlpperger waited for thespirits,
armed with gun and pistols, and. as was TO
be expected, they turned out, on being
shot, 10 be flesh and blood ANIMALS not the
least akin TO Mr.. Morgan, but wildcats,
baudica rats, and flying foxes. The scru-
Piles of the most timid domestics were thus
overcome, and Mr.. Stipperger confidently
took up his abode In the solitary villa.
Long before dawn the fisher families
assemble to take their morning bath in
the river. Then comes the turn of the
horses and oxen. Industrious washerwo.
men are often employed all DAY long in
beating linenon fiat stones and spreading it
the shore to dry. Numerous fishing boats
pass to and fro, and when the fishermen
draw them upon the land In the evening
and spread the large, square sails to dry,
the tongue OF land, with its long row of
reposing boats, forms an uncommon and
picturesque scene, especially when the |
evening breeze swells the sails and the |
setting sun dips into the sea, pouring over |
the whole flood of glitterlng gold, orange,
and purple. My friends Informed me that |
this sandv piece of land frequently cbsnges |
Its form in the course of years. 1t is, In |
fact, moving bar, such as are found at |
the mouths of all the larger avers IN Cey-
Ion. The helany-Ganga, rushing wildly |
IRON the mountains, brings with 1t a mass |
of sand and stones, and as the abundant |
rains daily carry into 1t quantity of earth |
and mud during its slower course through |
the plain, considerable banks are formed |
at its mouth in a very short time. These |
banks alter in shape and size according as !
the various streams seek their way hither |
and thither through the fiat delta. 1t is |
said that formerly the chief mouth of the |
Kelany was four miles further south, In |
Cinnamon Gardens. The lagoons there |
left and still in connection with the river |
by means of small channels, are the rem
nants of the former mouth, so that the |
greater part of the city of Colombo lies on
the old delta. The picturesque bar now |
directly opposite Whist Bungalow has al |
ternately been connected with the firm |
land at its northern and southern points |
and the wooded island opposite has some
times been peninsula and then again an
island.
"The coast Of this island. ike the shore
of the garden next TO that of Whist Bung-
allow, is thickly grown with lnangroves,
and had the pleasure of observing with
my own eyes the remarkable land creating
activity of this most important and char
acteristic of tropical growths. The trees
comprehendef under the name of man.
grove belong to very different species and
families but they all agree in their pecu-
liar form of growth and consequent typi-
cal physlognomy; thick aud busny crowns
of leaves resting on thick trunk, and this
trunk again resting on mass of naked
many branched roots, rising from SIX to
eight feet above the surface of the water.
Between the torked branches of this thick
dome of roots is collected the mud ana
sand brought down by the river, and de-
posted on its banks, and especially at It's
mouth, aud thus forest of mangroves
faYors greatly the increase of firm land.
But at the same time many organic sub
stances, such as dead animals OF plants,
are Caught and decay among the entanged
roots, and are the cause OF dangerous few
ers. This is not the case, however, with
most of the mangrove woods of Ceylon,
and the kelany is free from fever, as well
as the lagoons of Colombo. The reason
of the exemption is that the frequent and
coplous falls of rain often renew the water
and wash away the decaying substances