The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-02

mon Gardens - SInghaIese - Arab
Pasha.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
COLOMBO, Ceylon.-The mariner is
pretty sure to encounter storms, some
times terrific cyclones, while sailing on
the Indian Ocean, especially during the
transition period of the monsoons. These
are the prevailing winds which blow
from the southwest for a period of SIX
months after the vernal equinox, and
then for an equal time from the opposite
direction, as though returning to the
warmer regions after a visit to North
eastern Asia. During the change of
their course. very severe gales, violent
thunder storms and heavy raInfalls are
likely to occur in the track Of the mon
soon at any moment. On the cruise
down the Malabar coast of India, the
Juniata met many of these Southwest.
ern squalls, that coming suddenly upon
her one after another tossed and pitched
her about in a mel ciless manner.
On the approach of the storm, which
may be foreseen for few moments by
the trained eye Of the navigator, coming
out of clear sky and upon calm sea,
the ship is made ready for the encOun-
ter. The sails are shortened the patches
are covered with tarpaulIn, and the ship
is headed to meet the storm. On comes
the sweep of the winds. The clouds
deepen. The sea rolls up in huge break
ers. The lightnings break forth, flash
upon flash, like one continuous sheet Of
flame. The thunders crackle and rum
BILE and hurst out with deafening volleys
Of sur-charged artillery. The rain pours
down in torrents. The tremendous
waves beat against the ship, before
which she trrmbles and recois, and at
last break over her sweeping the decks
from stem to stern. Tossed about, the
sport of the mad wild and furious storm,
which passes by almost as quickly as it
comes, leaving in its wake bright sky
and a sea that soon becomes smooth and
calm and beautiful.
The monsoons, although perilous to
sea-farers, are boon to the Indies, for
blowing toward the land they carry the
moisture from the ocean and bring on
the rainy season, making the coast of the
continent garden of luxuriant and per-
petual vegetation. To be sure, the storms
are equally terrific on the shores, driving
the surf far upon the beach, filling the
air with spray and beating against every
object, until the trees bend to the earth
and the fish go flying from the water
into the streets of the towns and on the
fiat roofs of the native houses. Owing
to exposure to the sea and winds, the
Malabar coast before Bombay is without
any harbors of note, or even safe land
ing places for sea-going vessels,
The City of Colombo, on the Western
coast OF Ceylon, fronts an open sea. and
is approached with no little difficulty at
certain times. From the harbor, formed
by an artificial breakwater, a scene of
tropical and bewitching beauty is re-
vealed. The storied island seems to rise
up on the horizon like fairy enchant-
ment. Palms and other tropical trees
line the shore. Hills of green forests
stretch away in the distance and the
blue skies touch their far-away submits
with soft and fading tints The city
slumbers on the beach, half hidden in
the bright foliage, with the breakers
rooling lazly upon the golden sands at
its feet. 1t is beautiful vision, in sin
gular contrast with the desolate and bar
rem scenes along the Goa of the Asiatic
seas.
AS soon as a vessel drops anchor be.
fore Colombo, scores of boats put out
from the shore and surround the new
conner, for the purpose of landing pas
sengers. These are strange looking
crafts, for ordinary boats could not ride
Through the serf, contisting of simple
Idug. out, across which at each end is fas.
tened a pole that projects eight or ten
feet on one side, secured to log at the
other extremity, forming an out-rigger,
with the appearance of two boats lashed
together. Equipped with a three-cor-
nered sail and manned with dusky ma
uves, the skiff is complete, and in fair
breeze skins lightly and safely over tie
surface, Even in rough water it cannot
capsze, ,and is often driven by the winds
and swells of the sea high and dry upon
the beach.
The boatmen, who venture out
through the surf ARE an odd-!ookiug and
interesting lot of people. At first sight
they might be taken for women, for
their general appearance is deceptive.
Dressed in loose robes, with huge rings
Of gold in their ears, with their hair
rolled up in a knot at the back Of the
head and fastened with a large comb,
and of small stature and slender form,
the natives are sure to attract atenntion,
as they flock on shipboard to peddle
their wares. They are the Singhalese,
the descendants OF the ancient colonists
who came from the valley of the Ganges,
and represent the early civilization.
Willy and treacherous IN their dealing
they ply the arts Of trade, and live about
as their ancestors did centuries ago. The
women, unlike the men, are tall, erect
and comely, with regular features, beau
tiful eyes and fair dark skin, and are
dressed in flowing garments with neat
ness and taste. These people make up
the bulk of the population of the city
and island, interspersed with Dutch and
Portuguese, the remnants of modern
colonies, and with Moors, MaIays and
the aboriginal Veddhas.
The city possesses many attractions.
Its broad streets and comfortable houses
are especially pleasing. The hostelrles
afford the traveller every conceivable en-
| ioyment. The Gale Face Hotel, for
whose accommodations we were glad to
exchange the limited quarters of our
ship, is situated on the water front IN
the outskirts of the town, and is sur
rounded with delightful groves, flower
gardens and beautiful lawns. The prin.
cipal meal is served at midday, and is
called tiffin, the staple article of food
consisting of rice and curry, which is so
prepared as to make palatable and ex-
quisite dish. The Hindoo servants, with
which the place is vested, are models of
their kind. Large black men, clad in
long robes of spotless white, with their
IL aHaoanA IN knrba n thar q ra W nd
round in many folds and ingeniously
about noiselessly and seem TO anticipate
every wish of the guests. The servant
class is very large, and is so divided into
castles that an army OF domestics is
required in every household.
A servant Of one caste has a certain line
OF duty TO perform, while one OF lower
order has another task more menial, and
30 on through the whole range Of domes
tic affairs. In dining with friend one
takes his own servants with him to serve
him at the table.
Leading from the city are some most
beautiful drives and streets lined with
stately trees and shaded along the way
by broad leaved cocoa palms. Here and
there, embowered in their charming re-
treat, and many pretty houses, pictur.
esaue residences and low-roofed bunga.
lows, interspersed with mud huts that
are covered with thaich and surrounded
by groups of naked and happy children.
Like the famous roads which lead to
Rome, all the drives seem to take one to
the cinnamon gardens, which crowd
down upon the city on all sides. Large
level fields stretch away, covered with
cinnamon bushes, which grow up in the
form Of shrubs. The scene is pleasing
one, especially when the lsborers are
l.. $1,000. L.. ell.