The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1888-12-07
The Atttotrat,
OUR HlNDOsrAN LETTER.
KANpY, cnYLoN, Oct. 10Th, 1888.

and q cacao estate before you leave Cey ylon, |
said ouf genial host one bright morning In
the golden October days. @But Is It not
long, fatigulng drive" we asked, "Oh
no, delightful, and you will enjoy It," ex-
claimed his cheerful little wife, whose busy
bee dainty little touches here and there
beautifed her home, as she looked we'll to
the ways of her household, and were ST. |
lent rehuke to the rest of the idlers loung. |
ing In the great bamboo, easy chairs, with |
which every verandah both In India and |
Ceylon Is provided there are also little
tables for tea and palm leaf fans of pretty
and odd devices. As the beauty of the
little city of Handy nestled In the lap of the
lovely, green mountains of Ceylon, was
growing quite familiar after months so
journ we hailed with pleasure the prospect
OF an outing--arranged for the next day
to Palla.kellie, the largest cacao (choeolate)
estate In the Island of Ceylor, and most
charming drive II provcd,past the beautiful
ornamental lake made by the Kandyan
kings nearly hundred years ago, quite
nsarthe celebrated Buddhist temple known
as the "Dalada Maligawa," or Temple of
the TOOTH" 0n which Is enshrined this al
legged relic of Buddha,) past pretty pictur-
esque bungalows, so shrouded In beautiful
trees and shrubs, and curtained In clinging
green and blooming vines as to be scarcely
discernable In the distance through small
native villages where we saw natiyes drying
wild coffee. Along a tree embowered
smooth road over which we bowled at a
good rate of speed, the sunbeams sitting
softly down turning into vivid, id,golden-green
the lovely foliage of this tropical forest, and
lighting up the dusky faces of the coach
man and syce In neat, white liYeries with
only dash of brightness in the red turbans
and cammerbuno, (sashes) Now there arc
glimpses of the tall mountain peaks, the
river Mahaveli- ganga winding in and out
like silver thread among the varied shades
of the woodland now and then feeting
glances are obtained Of tea plantations.
Soon a beautiful view Is before us far
away and below US flows the shining river
along the banks grow many varieties OF
lovely, tropical trees of rich and brilliant
foliage, beyond the green hills crested
with Australian gum trees and sheltered
By the purple blue mountains, overhead
Aoated pear-grey clouds, near us were pref
ty tenaced rice fields, their soft, delicate
green resembling our young wheat field at
home the gay tamil" costumes worn by
the native women and children lent an
added picturesqueness to the scene, as they
merrily pursued their task of wedding the
tender, young rice. Great grey bowiders
frowned down on US from one side, partly
screened by scraggy shrubs, and dotted by
moss and lichen. In many places we saw
numerous coolies busily engaged in clear
ing and burning the brush and timbe
from steep hills, preparatory to convertine G
them into thriving tea plantations. Many
of the former great coffee estates in thi
part of the Island have failed, owing to {
yirulent attack of leaf fungus, (Hemilii
vastatrix,) and are now being utilized a
tea and cacao estates. We are soon at tn
river, In whose cool depths many native
are bathing, laughing and splashing about
We are speedily ferried over In very prim
tive ferry boat by native boatmen an
landed ON a splendid cacao estate of I3o
acres in Aourishing state of cultivation
and are driven through wilderness O
eacaO trees, the ruby-colored corrugated
fruit grows along the body and branche
of the small trees, s,and is about the size ant
shape of nutmeg melon, only more slen
der, and grows with the large end to tn
stem and is very pretty among the darl
green velvet-looking leaves. The cacao O
this and the Kondesale estate adjoining
are said at present to "tcp the Londor
market" My readers must not contour,
the product of the cacao tree with that O
the coconut Palm,(as many persons at frs
do0 tor they are entirely different. Grow
Ing among the cacao trees are many cofe'
bushes, some with small, white flowers
others are full Of red and green berries
both Arabian and Liberian coffee gov
here side by side. Next we drive through
small forest of beautiful Cera or Brazilian
rubber trees with graceful dropping branch
es and pale, delicate, green leayes,s so lovely
and attractive could not resist the temp
taticn Of plucking coveted cluster anC
thumPhantly displaying my prize, causing
dire CONSERVATION among the occupants o
our carriage as the thick, milky liquid fel
from the broken stems spelling whateve
IL touched. In some places the branche
on either side meet and form a green leaf,
canopy, through which the sunlight trem
bles with subdued glow.
Now our way Is broidered by lovely Sa
pan trees, the fine green foliage remindin
me of our locust trees the Sapan is cult
waited here for the dye It produces, simila
to that of logwood. Here we saw the va
nilla beans growing and clambering in ran
luxuriance over great trellises, from whic
hung intangled confusion the g,slendel
glossy, dark green pods, whose extract Is S
highly priced. Thestore houses next clair
our attention, long, low, white building
erected in a sheltered little glen, with hug
sheds, under which are the large wagon
and numerous carts used on the estate, an
the neat and extensive dying grounds Civ
evidence of thrift and wise control. Nea
are comfortable looking native huts for tn
coolies. 500 OF whom are employed on thi
estate. Arriving at the pretty, cozy bur
galow, built on great green knoll, beaut
fed by Towering shrubs and palms, an
shaded by lovely tropical trees. We wer
thankful to rest on the wide, cool verandaf
festooned in bIossoming vines and rendere
comfortable and attractive by cushione