Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-07
CHAPTER XII.
A nOuan JouIlNEY.

tnree Wecks ago
CHAPTER XII.
RoUoH JoURSEY.
II was near the end Of Jnnnary--of
all months the most agreeable In Ccy-
lon; the evening was 40 soft and fra.
grant; the air seemed 70 have been
poured down from some purcr sphere,
waiting with II songs OF rich melody
and scents Of tropical flowers.
A long, covered samphn or canoe,
prepared with cushions and mats aud
propelled by the broad paddles Of three
lusty Malays; Is making Roadway
against the sluggish stream Of tho
Quala river. In the stern Of the boat
sit two Europeans, dressed In the light
costume OF Colombo merchants and
wearing white pith helmets with n
screen Of muslin hanging n quarter Of a
yard down their backs.
Their light and wcll-mnnncd boat
goes boldly up the stream, slsillfully
avoiding the huge trunks Of trees which
IN this time Of the year abound In all
the rivers OF Ccylon.
Many n curious sight these ndvcntur-
ers see rs they wend their way. Now
the banks are covered with thick
Jungle of thorny brnmblcs, tall cacti,
bamboos and the gigantic creeping
plant, which the sailors appropriately
call jungle-ropc, growing In intricate
recesses which are tccming with wild
animals and noxious reptiles, and again
the tall palms wave their feathery tops
In solemn grandeur.
Every now and then they meet some
other sampan, downward bound, pad.
died by bnrc-backcd Malay, with per
haps some Cingnlcse potentatc, clad in
n long white robe and with huge
comb In his hair, who In returning 10
the city after visit TO his plantation.
Darkness comes on, but II docs not
impede them, for they have not started
till the heat Of the day was spent, 80
one OF the natives lights n chute, or torch,
and Axes IL In the bow Of tho bont,
while presently the moon will come
forth In all its tropical glory.
Thus the night was passed, and
morning saw those tirclcss pnddlcrs
bending their tawny backs to their
task. but when the sun rose In I'M
cioudcd splcndor they moorcd their
sampan under the spreading boughs OF
bread-fruit tree, and, after hasty
meal, filed their mouths with the
biood-red betol nut and flung them
selves down TO sleep the torpid slumber
OF the weary.
How hot II wasl
Not n breath OF air was stirring
amidst the dense mass OF vegetation; not
II twig nor leaf luttered; the long
white paddy stalks, or wild rice,
glittered and sparlSled In their watcry
resting pieces rs though they were
fashioned In FURNISHED silver. The
buffalos had betalSen themselves Ia
their watering places, The birds were
evidently worn out, for they were no.
where to be seem the beetles crawlcd
feebly over the cooler shrubs, but they
could not summon energy 10 get mp n
single hum or buzz; md even the ants
dropped their lilliputian loads.
TIM Europeans could not sleep. A
short, stcrtorous, fcvcrish unconscious.
ness was their apology for slumbcr.
and before the first hour OF rcpose wns
passed, they rose from their reclining
PoANoh' NhNheu NchTlly' anu looheu
with envious eyes ut their humber
companions, happy In the sweet
oblivion Of drcamless rest.
"By Jove, Campignon," said the
younger Of tho two. what an accursed
slimnte' After the delicious GOODNESS
OF last evening, this reeking heat Is
aoubly stihing, IT'S iito stepping from
PARADISE into liadcs.
And what do you think II will be
when we get further away from the
sea shore and tho nights will be moro
snitry than the days MIR. Dunbar7'
the elder replied, lighting cigarette
with provoking nonchalnnce.
must bear IT, ! suppose"
III You cam but you have seen moth
ing OF the roughness OF the trip yet.
In twenty miles more we shall be in
the wilderness, and then look out for
squalls
You are aJobs comforter, certain
ly," Dunbar replied; but sufficient for
the day is the evil thereof iy the bye,