Ellsworth American., 1892-04-07
For the Ellsworth American.l
Into the Interior Of Ceylon.


places Of the world, on account Of its de
iightful climate, though very hot-en
chanting mountain scenery and its Lowell
forests of palms and lowering trees %
many varieties. When the Dutch had pos
session OF the country. hundred or tive
hundred years ago, they planted thousand
the island. whch are to-day not only one O
It's beautiful features of forest scenery
but one Of its great wealth sources.
The principal shipping port and capita
j. Colombo, having beautiful artihcia
harbor capable of containing hundreds o,
ships. The city has wide. clean streets
and many fine buildings and residences
that have been built under English rule
IT has fine park and museum building
which Il new, hut has quite an interesting
exhibit Of nstive products and curios Ii
the centre Of the city there Is beautiful
lake around which are delightful drive.
under grand shade trees aud over gooC
roads. one favored drive with all i
through the west part of the town and ou,
along the sea with the surf Of the Indiar
ocean running up the smooth sane
To within few feet Of the carriage; out
and race grounds, thence through the Gin
namon gardens and Victoria Park. anC
wherever you please after.
There i part Of the city that was moi
built under English supervision, but has
existed for hundreds Of years. A long
letter might he written upon those stree,
scenes aud modes Of eastern life as seen in
wandering through those thoronghfares
full Of life a. it has existed among this
people for thousands Of years. | spent
many hours during my stay in the port
looking through those narrow. Old, crowd
ed byway> of Did Colombo. But what
saw iD those hours is not what sat down
70 tell you Of
| thought Of telling you of few days
trip into the interior of Ceylon, TO the an.
cient city Of handy, and If possessed the
ability Of describing with justice the scenes
amid which lived during those few days
| could interest your readers but rs m,
descriptive powers are OF limited charac
ter and my command OF language not he.
Ing very lucid, fear my narration will bt
rather confused. However, | will tell YOU
that yot ap one morning, rather earlier
than my usual custom, and after getting
outside of lunch prepared by the stew
ard, | Was rowed by my native boatmer
through a fleet OF huge steamers. native
crafts, Catamaraus. &C, to the pass.uge.
mole. Here | entered carriage and rode
through crowds Of natives fastening tc
their days toll or lounging in the shade OF
the spreading banyan and other trees full
rain.
The ride is delightful. the air having
been made clear and cool BY the show
ers which fell before the dawn, and fra.
grant from the pIofusion of flowers anc
leaf giistening like jewels in their morn
ing bath. The ride is about mile and
half, mostly along the margin Of the lake
TO the station of the Ceylon Government
K. w. As ride along the lake see hun
dreds of washmen purifying { ID the soilec
linen Of this country's washed-out aristoc
racy by dipping it into the water ther
beating it on a fiat stone. Within a few
feet of them, in the same sheet of water
they are suruDbing herd OF cattle AM
horses. At the X. W. station everything
is decidedly English, ''doncherno; !" en-
gines, coaches, guards, &C. This morn
ing train consisted of thirteen passenger
coaches only two of which were first class
On my ride of lG0 miles of rail | occupie,
tirst-class carriage alone; SO | concludeC
that few travel tirst-class in Ceylon, anc
the tariff is not high either.
Colombo stands on land but few fee
above the sea, and the first thirty miles O.
the ride is over low, marshy. rice-pro
ducing country. As soon as we are clea
of the station we are into a forest of palm.
and Towering trees. We shortly cross
small river, over finely constructed
bridge and on all sides the scenery be
comes exceedingly charming. All thi
low country is interspersed with low hill
covered with palms and other trees. ant
the line of railroad is built through ant
across these lovely valleys in which we SCI
rice in ever stage Of development.
In places they are preparing the grount
and sowing the rice, and the rice Is seel
from an inch high to ripe, and ready to b,
cut. We ride along in some places TO
miles through old abandoned rice fields
which are now shallow ponds. covered ia
and near with lilies from the size of ,
daisy and snow white to the size of .
breakfast plate with crimson and pinl
outside leaves graduating to pale pink o.
white center. On these low hills that form
those lovely little valleys, buried beneath
Towering creepers and shaded by lofty
palms, stand the huts of the natives TEEN
ing with life and color. 1t seems Al
though there we're hundred items in sigh
upon which an interesting chapter coult
be written. Besides the lilies that coyel
the surface of the water, we ride between
walls of flowers when we ride over thu
dry land, through the forest clad country
In another moment we are looking fol
miles up another flower-bordered vale
through it's center and along its terracet
sides the bright green rice straw glistenine
in the sunlight. What luxuriant vegeta
tion! What vivid coloring! This scenery
would drive an artist crazy. Trees. cleft!
and cottages are overrun and buried be
meath Towering vines and creepers; th'
ever-changing scenes of rural life. th'
moving multitude of Cingalese. with bodies
half.naked and half-clothed In brillian
hues, complete picture that is pleasing
and beautiful beyond comparison.
After leaving the station at Palenawel'
the land becomes higher. we wind ou
and In among the hills. rice lands become
less, and we see the first rocks-except tn