The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-04-11

first hour and for each succeeding hour,
one quarter rupee-a rupee is about %
cents in American money.
The Cinnamon Gardens was our OBJ
jeetive point, distant about mile direct.
After driving some time | said to the
driver, must be back at the landing in
one hour. He Informed me that he was
going TO show me several points of in
terest and it would cost me only two
rupees. | said | want to 60 to the Gin
namon Gardens and to be back in one
hour, and shall give you one rupee only.
Seeing that knew the fare he subsid-
ed. turned down side street and soon
we were in the Cinnamon Gardens.
The scenes were typical of Eastern
countries. Bazars and shops of various
kinds abounded by the road side, timer
ant merchants and vendors of fruit, betel-
nut. etc. offered their wares. The teeth
of the people were diseoloeed with this
latter. giving them filthy and foul APP
pearance. Crows perch everywhere a
roost can be found, NANCY dogs infest
the lanes and by-ways; naked coolies
bearing heavy burdens on their heads,
trot leisurely by. Bullock carts with
rude matched tops amble along, JuiIick-
chas. dimiuutive European carriage
drawn by coolies. containing a single
passenger, Jog comfortably by, the
coolie travelling four TO five miles an
hour; occasionally we met native
family of the better class, apparently, in
bullock cart, and over all, the fierce
tropical sun beats mercilessly down.
Children stand at the side of the road
Or in tie shop door, in a nude condition.
Occasionally "A family group is seen be-
4. ~.
tree, in various stages of undress, the
father lazily lolling on the ground, and
the mother surrounded by three or four
children. Their favorite occupation
seems to be bunting each others heads
for-cOcoauuts Or something of that
sort. Beggars abound. One little girl
of about II years ran along beside our
carriage for ten minutes perhaps-crv-
ing Good gentlemans-me no fader no
mudder-you good gentlemans-some
peDHy-you my fader my mudder-give
Inc some peunv-good gentlemans. etc. :"
is we had never been in Colombo be-
fore, and she vas the hue of dark cop
per, we disclaimed the relationship en-
tirely.
\ religious faker next appeared; see
ing our carriage approaching, he
crawled out from the roadside where he
was lying, extending his palms for aims.
His legs were crooked and distorted, aud
he only walked on his hands and knees.
The houses by which we passed were
of stone, generally surrounded by high
walls and shaded by trees. They are
but one story high with high ceilings,
large rooms, wide verandahs, etc. The
poorer classes of course crowd together
as best they may. One typical scene
was that of perhaps fifty hathers, in IA
little pond men, women aud children
splashing, swimming, and having very
Jolly time. They were not entirely
nude, having "A cloth about their loins,
while theil clothing was scattered about
on the shore, or hung up on the trees To
dry after being washed.
Returning to the "Ravenna" we
4 watched the boats and their rowers from
the deck, it is an interesting scene, how
eagerly they strive for few pennies,
toilng and sweating in "A sun, which
would kill white man. The diving
boys at Colombo surpass if anything
those at Alden. They surround the
/ steamer, padding their craft fearessly
about watching for a stray coin. Their
canoes are made simply of two or three
rough logs dashed together, upon which
/ they kneel, half submerged, and WELD
their paddles of split bamboo, with great
skill Standing erect, they attract the
attention of the passengers by singing in
shrill voice, keeping tune To their
music by Shaping their sides with the
bent arm-''Ta-ra-boom-de ay'', daisy
Bell, or some other song, snatches OF
which they have in some mysterious
way learned. Then ''me diye--me dive
throw money-throw money. If II
bit of silver is thrown, it matters moi
how far, dozen splashes and kicking
pairs of feet are seen. and then grin
ming face appears with the coin between
his teeth. They never fail to secure it.
At four O'Clock We weigh anchor, and
soon the low land sinks out of sight and
the last stage of our Journey begins.
+. II. MORGAN.