St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-03

and the different parts distributed in
the various provinces. The most sacred
OF these relics was the tooth, which
was first assigned 90 Orissa, in India,
but as that place was subject to fire.
quent invasions by hostile tribes. the
precious tooth was finally removed to
Handy for Safe-keeping, and the pres
ent elaborate temple erected in
its honor. which is still known as
the temple of the
Sacred Tooth.
Our party arrived at the sacred shrine
during the hour of worship, and groups
of Zealots bowed their foreheads Oh the
cold etone floor, and at intervals raised
their hands IN supplication before this
ancient molar, having first deposited
their offerings of flowers or rice on the
altar.
But when the priest noticed US in the
background he quickly hustled the
WorshlperS out, for he saw rupees in
the air. He stopped business at once,
closed the doors, drew the curtains and
invited US into the sanctum sanctorum
behind the altar. and opened up the
treasure case for our inspection.
We found the sacred tooth religiously
guarded by series of heavy
silver bells stacked one above the other.
underneath the bottom one of which the
molar rests in q gold box. The bells
are covered with a great quantity of
Jewelry and precious stones, and are
surrounded by an outer railing of stout
iron work, as an extra precau-
ton. he tooth is two inches
long and one inch thick, but
no true Buddhist ever doubts
its genuineness, however skeptical 9TH
ers may be. We were also shown the
number of silver lamps, silver, gold and
crystal statues of Buddha. the church
jewels, ivory carvings, etc, which are
carried IN stock to bambooZle the igno-
rant, and as source of revenue from
tourists, who must pay for the privilege
OF inspection. The kings and priests of
Burmah aud Siam send yearly tyibutes
ence is paid to it in India, China and
Japan. We spent day i'll the wonder
full botanical
Perad1mia Gardens,
four miles from Kaudy. Eighty years
have been consumed in bringing these
gardens to their presentstate of perfec-
ton. Every plant. shrub and tree indi-
genOus to the tropics can be found there
ana anything like an honest description,
would require more space than you
would grant and more time than | can
devote. Let it suffice that the best sci
entlStS. guide books and others call
them the finest botanical gardens in the
world. While driving around the envi-
rons OF kaudy we got our first glimpses
or burden-bearing elephants. The do
cfllty of these huge monarcbs of the
forest and the ease with which native
boys controlled them was most snrpris-
ing, and dispelled many of my Youthful
circus illusions, but we shall soon be in
the land of ephants-India-an will
reserve them for another letter.
Some fifteen years ago coffee was the
chief crop of Ceylon, and the island had
great boom when it had been proven
satisfactorily that the precious berry
could be produced here profitably. For
several years the crop was great sue
cess, old plantations were mOrtgaged,
more land was bought and new places
opened up. Companies, corporations
and Syndlcates came out from England
with their managing director and
abundance of capital TO the new Edo
RADIO. The coffee boom produced real
estate boom, newly made millionaires
sprung up, money was plentiful, every
body wore diamonds, and such an all
around
Era of Prosperity
CeylOn never saw before. nor has It
seen since. When the boom was at its
height and the island was shipping
about $50. 000,0 900 worth of coffee yearly.
little but deadly fungus made its APP
pearance on the plantations. A few
short seasons after the advent of this
new enemy almost the entire business
of the coffee planters of Ceylon was
wiped out by the mysterious fungus.
Mortgages were f0reelosed, lands were
sold for sacrifice and the disheartened
planters. in the main, left the island
bankrupt and Disguised with their
colonial ventures. Even to-day it
is a sad sight to visit a large
tea plantation. for here. and
there are the old stumps of
the coffee tree, silent but eloquent wit
neSses of the former prosperity of the
good old coffee days" In Colombo to-
day are men clerking for $40 or SIS per
week who could have sold their estates
for fortunes before the appearance of
the fell fungus. But, whilst MANY of
the planters were ruined for life, there
were some among them who possessed
the sturdy Scotch thrift of their ances-
tors, and these set about using the lands
for other crops. Some, after various ex-
perlmentS, found their salvation in
cinchona, but others, and the majority.
turned their attention to tea. And SO
rapid has been the recovery that today
The Little Island
is on another boom, and is competing
successfully with India, China and
Japan in all the European markets.
The planters are much excited over a
sale of choice, specially picked Ceylon
tea. which occurred in London last
week, and which before this has been
telegraphed to trade journals through
out the world. 1t was only small
quantity of tea, but it sold at public
auction III London for 210 shillings, or
over $50 per pound. The Ceylou tea is
strictly pure, of good flavor, and the
yield most gratifying Through tea
predict greater and more lasting pros
perity for the plucky planters, who
would not surrender to adversity, than
ever coffee brought them. Almost all
the plantation labor of the island
is carried on by Tamils of
Southern India. the CingaIese
refusing to do coolie work, since thew
can make ten times more money trad
ing. In their own country, | under
stand the average earnings per family
or five OF these Tamils reach about $50
III year, condition of things which
appears almost incredible to our minds
Here the Tamils are bloated bondhoId.
ers compared to theirrelations in India
For they have good homes, cheap food.
medical attendance and can earn 70 to
Is cents per day. l doubt if, consider
ing the climate and cost of living, there
are any laboring classes in the world
better OF than these coolies on the tea
plantations in CeylOn.
The Price of Coal
never worries them, for they want no
fire. High-priced, beef has no terrors
for they eat no meat. He needs no
WOODEN clothes. for shilling's worth of
cotton cloth will clothe him for q wear.
lie is content with two meals of rice