Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-07-01
ISLE OF SPICE AND PALM.
CEYLoN ONE VAST FERNERY AND
HOTHOUSE GARDEN,

y L Is worth trip hall way round
the world to visit this charm
| ing island of spices and palm
i groves, surrounded as it is by
double glrdle OF golden sands, in which
are embedded precious gems that sparkle
and twinkle in the laziy rolling surf
Long before the island is reached one
isgreeted with its perfumed and spicy
breezes as they are waited far out to
sea.
The island of Ceylon is situated, as is
we'll known, near the southeastern ex--
tremity of Iudia, only six degrees from
the equator. Under this tropical sun,
with several hundred inches of rain
fall annually in many places, the
island presents the appearance of one
vast fernery and hot house garden-a
paradise of flora, beautifully disposed
into PLAIN aud highland, valll aud peak,
where almost everything grows that is
known to tropical sky. For miles and
miles one rides through bowers of wav-
ing palms of talipot, the leaves of which
have been used for $500 years, and are
still used to this day by the Buddhists
for their sacred scripture books. They
are prepared and the letters scratched
on them by means of stylus, and so
whole inspired volumes are written Just
as the Egyptians used to write on pa
pyrus.
Here one passes through groves of CO.
coanut, areca and betel-nut palms, with
their long slender stems and beautiful
foliage and fuits. A cocoanut tree pro-
duces from 100 to 300 nuts annually,
and many natives would starve should
the crop fail--a thing which has not
happened for 1900 years.
Ne next drive along the roads lined
with towering feathery bamboos as chick
as ones body. From these houses are
built, furniture and utensils and orna-
ments are made. Then one sees the
broad-leaved bread fruit trees, bearing a
delicious fruit the size of melon; sugar
cane of enormous size; large jackfruit
trees; huge india-rubber trees, from
which caoutchoue is obtained. These
trees have as many roots above the
ground as there are branches. Another
huge tree frequently seen is the banian
or Indian fig three, with its hundreds of
branches that have taken root in the
ground. Then there is the sacred Bo
tree seen frequently. This tree sprang
up to protect Lord Budda wherever he
CHANGED to rest. fhen we pass orchards
of bananas, cinchouas, allspice, nutmegs,
cannas, cloves, dracenas, crotons, cin-
namon, erythroxylon cocoa, from the
leaves of which cocaine is obtained; pa.
paya, from which digestive ferment is
made; cocoa trees that yield chocolate,
and so on down to tea-ine ceylon tea,
of which there are thousands of acres, Just
as there were thousands of acres of coffee
some few years ago, yielding millions of
pounds of good coffee. But the death
blow came to coffee in the shape of a
fungus, and green bug, which destroyed
the trees so completely that Ceylon coffee
has now all but disappeared.
The nights in Ceylon, especially up in
the mountains, are perfectly delicious.
The atmosphere is cool, clear and per-
fumed with many delicate aramas from
the Towering shrubs and spices. Myr-
lads of iirehies dart hither and thither
in giittering clusters, lighting up the
darkness like so many tiny electric lights.
Everywhere the crickets and frogs and
many unknown birds aud beasts sing and
cry in chorises tina. lull one to forgetful-
ness in the sweet arms of Morpheus. In
the starry vault the beautiful southern
cross and many brilliant consultations
shine overhead like so many unknown
worlds, which in fact they are, with the
north polar star scarcely above the hori-
zon, all making picture so pleasing that
once seen is never to be forgotten. II is
like dream of fairyland.
Ceylon has an area of $4,000 square
miles and population of 5000, 600
souls. OF these 2, 900, 900 are Cingalese,
and all faithful Buddhists; 500, 900
Taneils, who are Brahmins and liindoos ;
5000 Europeans Of many religious sects,
aud the rest Mohammedans, Japanese.
Chinese, Burmese, etc, with a handful
OF aboriglnes found on the island $500
years ago, when Buddha first planted his
foot on Adams peak to preach and save
the human race. These aborigines are
called Veddahs, and live like animals in
the jungle and woods. They were mis-
taken by early travellers for monkeys,
which indeed they seem to resemble.
They 40 naked aud speak an unknown
tongue.
Colombo is now the port Of entrance for
all large vessels, The city is charmingly
situated ON the blue Indian Oceans
sparkling sands. IL Is dlied with avenues
OF waving palms aud Towering shrubs,
aud possesses many fine buildings aud a
good English fort, The city has l3O, 900
Inhabitants, mostly Cingalese. They
live in small huts made Of bamboOs, ia
the midst of eocoanut groves. Their
huls have large hole for window aud
half side out, which answers for q
door. one room is usually all these huts
possess la this the natives cook. eat
and sleep. Furniture j. uaknowa. Their
beds are mats Of palm leaves. rhey sit
an the door, not cross .les sged, as do the
Turks, but Ia sqnatling posture on
their launches They live On jack fruit
largely COARSE frlli. twelve inches
long by siK wlle, thai gross on huge
trees. besides this they eat eoeoaaals,
banauas, bread fruit, nuts, rice sni curry
aud papsya. fruit aaaut the slzo aud
somewhat ol she lasts af mnskmelon.
The natives have rather aalkeg skins
than the indians, Lul they are eell de-
yelogsd and lalelllgeat Many al Ihela
age gaoi laotlH., fheiF closhias Is
yefy slmplet fhey sea- long hais, ~hlch