The herald., 1894-10-21

late the route anu preVemts ii poeblole,
two different religious professions meet
ing and rioting. A great deal OF crime
takes place oil many kinds murders are
far too frequent, usually cgnsed by the
custom of carrying asheath-xnste in the
waist belt.
The greatest offsnse ia perjury. which
is rampant. and to an European quite
appalling. A native will swear away the
life of another for r l or RI $50 or 90
cents)l
Bishop Hsber was about right when
he said;
"Where every prospect pleases,
And only man is vile.''
He must have been of fine old polite
stock, for he OF course does not mention
woman
Ofthe magnificent ruins OF the ancient
and buried capitals of Ceylon now being
excavated by the government, the fine
literature, the grand irrigation tanks
and works, could write for heurs, but
have already written much more than
/ intended. Then of the system OF
roads. OF which the colony is so justly
proud, built to Withstand the rushing
torrents of the fierce monaeona, at cost
Of over $4,000 per mile, but enough
had almost forgotten to write OF
those peculiar. and to anthropologists,
most interesting people, the Veddahs,
or wild men of the woods. They are
probably the lowest type Of humanity
known. lower than the aborsgines OF
Western Australia, snd they are poor
enough specimens surely. Of these
Veddshs only acme 800 are now left.
They inhabit the lower-lying part of the
interior. near the Bintenne country, and
Il.
trees they hunt game with their bows
and arrows, and eat wild fruits. nuts
and berries, so that they are most prim-
tive. They wear their hair long and
usually matted, and generally go about
naked. On the approach of an European
they as q rule hide themselves. They
have never been known to laugh, and
are great curiosity.
When the prince of Wales made hie
memorable journey to India. he visited
Ceylon first, and half dozen Veddahs
were brought to Randy for inspection
We enjoy the sport OF kings in Cey-
Ion, viz. Elephant catching or kraaling,
and il is. l can assure you, most ex-
citing experience. Perhaps you would
like to hear more OF this on some future
occasion.
Most Of the wild elephants are tanned
and used in the public works depart.
ment, building roads and bridges; also
ia the forestry department. hauling
timber. etc.
A large number are attached to the
Buddhist temples and used in all pro-
oessions. Generally the Buddhist (pro-
nounce "Boodist') priests are great
scoundrsls, and there are few serious
crimes committed, murders, abductions,
false coming, etc., in which some OF
these priests are not connected.
OF course several varieties of monkeys
are found in Ceylon.
OF the many fine woods to be found
Wild in the jungles the very beautiful
and valuable ebony and satinwood are
the best, and tho magni6cently carved
pillars OF these woods forming the sey-
eral Ceylon courts at Chicago and San
Francisco were greatly admired. They
were all carved over by hand in the
style of that country that has been
practiced for 5000 years in their temples.
palaces and public buildings. The
Ceylon building on the lake front at
Chicago was the only building at that
grand affair that WAS awarded gold
medal.
The American missions are we'll repre-
Island. and q sister of your president ia
stationed there with her husband. go
this should interest you O great deal.
was agreesbly surprised when at a re-
ception given by Mills college at their
fine exhibit in San Francisco when the
lady principal conversed fuentlv in
Tamil with me. She had been stationed
in Ceylon for five years in come of the
missions, l presume.
Visitors to Ceylon always meet with a
warm welcome, and can speak for the
planters. who are always delighted to
show any one over their plantations
and explain to visitors the different
processes through which the tea leaf
goes in being made into the article
known as tea, "the cup that cheers but
does net insbriate."
John Ferguson, esq., the very able
editor OF the leading daily paper pub.
lished in Colombo, with number of
other interesting papers. books, direc-
tories. etc, and who has Travelled through
your vast country more than once, gem
orally receives q call from visitors which
he delights to honor. The other leading
paper is the Times of Csylon. Both OF
them are closely identified with the
planting interests and are Tell.conducted
sheets.
Ceylon, one of the most lovely spots
on earth, is rapidly becoming a favorite
place for travellers to break their Journey
while voyagng around the world, and
my advice is to spend fortnight at
least there. l can safely guarantee thar
such fortnight will always be looked
back upon as the happiess and most en-.
loyaoie in the lives of those who are
lucky enough to undertake the journey.
My last words must be to the ladies'
and | hope they will be good enough to
ask their grocers for some Ceylon tea.
Care must be taken to use only half the
quantity you have been using OF other
brands OF tea. Freshly boiling water
ahould be uaeo, the tea should be made
et the table, not at the stove. The tea
pot should be heated first, then the tea
put in and boiling water poured over it.
The teapot should be set on the table
with cover or tea cosy over it to keen
it warm, for five or ten minutes only.
then poured off into the cupe. If al
lowed to rsmain longer than six mintues
the liquor becomes bitter and unpalsta-
bic. If second cup is required, the
liquor should be poured off the leaves.
into another heated teapot. This is
the proper and only way TO get q good
cup OF tea end one that will do you no
harm.
THOMAS A. CocKBURN.
Ecery uoter qchose name IS not on the
great register Of 1899 should register at
once. RegistrGii0n cz3ses On tbo ood af