Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-06-04
CHAPTER XIV
A ROUGH JOURNEY.

all months the most agreeable In Ccy-
lon: the evening was SO soft and fra
grant; the mir seemed to have been
poured down from some purcr sphere,
waiting with IL songs OF rich melody
ind scents of tropical flowers.
A long, covered sampan or canoe,
prepared with cushions and mats and
propelled by the broad paddles of three
lusty Malays; is making Roadway
against the sluggish stream OF the
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 q
screen of muslin hanging quarter OF
yard down their backs.
Their light and wcll-manned boat
goes boldly up the stream, skillfully
avoiding the huge trunks OF trees which
in this time Of the year abound in all
the rivers of Ccylon.
Many curious sight these adventur-
ers see as they wend their way. Now
the banks are covered with thick
Jungle of thorny brambles, tall cacti,
bamboos and the gigantic creeping
plant, which the sailors appropriately
call jungle-rope, growing in intricate
reccsscs which are tecming with wild
animals and noXious reptiles, and again
the tall palms wave their fcathery tops
in solemn grandeur.
Every now and then they meet some
other sampan, downward bound, pad
died by bare-backcd Malay, with per
haps some Cingalcse potentate, clad in
long white robe and with huge
comb in his hair, who is returning to
the city after visit TO his plantation.
Darkness comes on, but it'does not
impede them, for they have not started
till the heat of the day was spent, so
one of the natives lights ehulc, or torch,
and fixes it in the bow of the boat,
while presently the moon will come
forth in all its tropical glory.
Thus the night was passed, and
morning saw those tireless paddlers
bending their tawny backs to their
task. But when the sun rose in un-
cloudcd splendor they moored their
sampan under the spreading boughs of
a bread-fruit tree, and, after hasty
meal, filled their mouths with the
blood-rcd betel nut and flung them
selves down to sleep the torpid slumber
of the weary.
How hot it was.
Not n breath of air was stirring
amidst the dense mass ofvegetation: not
a twig nor leaf huttcred; the long
white paddy stalks, or wild rice,
glittcred and sparklcd in their watery
resting pieces as though they were
fashioned in FURNISHED silver. The
buffalos had betallcn themselves to
their watering places. The birds were
evidently worn ont, for they were no.
where to be seen; the beetles crawled
fcebly over the cooler shrubs, but they
could not summon energy to get up n
single hum or buzz; and even the ants
dropped their lilliputian loads
The Europeans could not sleep. A
short, stertorous, feverish unconscious
ness was their apology for slumber,
and before the first hour of reposc was
passed, they rose from their reclining
position, yawned YEARLY, and looked
| Will Civ iOuS SJSS oO OhSh HuiAO'NA
companions, happy in the sweet
oblivion of drcamless rest.
by Jove, Campignon," said the
younger of the two. ''What an accursed
climate! After the delicious GOODNESS
of last evening, this reeling heat is
doubly sitting. It's like stepping from
Paradise into IIades."
"And what do you think it will be
when we get further away from the
sea shore and the nights will be more
sultry than the days. Mr.. Dunbar?"
the elder replied, lighting cigarette
with provoking nonchalance.
81 must bear it, suppose"
'If you can; 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 n Jobs comforter, certain
"" Dunbar replied; ''but sufficient for
the day is the evil thereof. BY the bye,
we cannot be far away from the vii
lage where we were to lay in our sup
plies, and get our last chance of infor-
nation from the headman."
ut lies just beyond the bend of the
river, not two miles away" was the re-
ply. 'Wcre you thinking of going to
see the hcadman while these poor beg
CARS take their siesta?"
~ confess was" Dunbar said; ''if
you thought you had sufficient know
ledge of the language to conduct the
business; for | guess there are shade
trees all the way, and sitting broiling
in this sitting atmosphere is simply
1addening."
"oh, guess the old fellow knows a
little English, and my small acquaint-
ance with the Cingalese will carry us
through. Sling your gun over your
arm, Mr.. Dunbar. and let us start"