New-York tribune., 1909-07-18
CEYL0N THE G0RG GE0US
THE ISLE FROM WHICH
COMES THE FINE TEA.
'Iis the 4rabian "Serendib," En-
led by Buddhist Poets as "a Pearl
Upon the Bro1c of india

Despite the fact that the enterprise and persist
ence Of the planters of Ceyon in advertising the
virtues OF of it's products. have familiar
ized Americans with the Of the island in the
praise of which. from time immemorlal the poets
OF the Greenland. In later days those Of the Oc-
cdent-have exhausted the superlatives 10 be found
in any tongue in extravagant laudation Of it's
vellous beauty its gorgeous color Its soft cline. its
wondrous gems, and, in short. its possession Of all
the features and characteristics Of paradise on
EARTH how many of us know anything OF 1t. and
Of it's history? Most probably the average person
has hazy notion that, like Borneo. Formosa. and
other islands of the dim and mysterious East
it's a place inhabited by barbarians. semi i-bar-
barians. overrun with dense ana tangled tropical
growths, in which lurk all sorts of dangerous wild
animals and deadly reptiles its savage state only
partly redeemed by the presence Of a few advent
urous exponents OF Western civilization, who are
riskIng health. and life itself, TO snatch
hardly gained riches from virgin soil
And Yet five hundred years before the Christian
era the agrculturist-" highest type of man -
titled its soil. and high state Of civilization the
vestges of which. ia the shape Of ruins of ndgnih-
cent architectural engineering works. remain in
attestatiou. existed. True the form Of government
ana Of social organization was purely patriarchaI,
but the people practsed virtues and enjoyed the
luxuries which considered the test Of our mod
ern civilization. Women were treated with respect
and Difference. Rich furniture used In dwell
Emerson Tennent In his fine work descriptive Of the
island-a work which FOR more than haif a CEN
tury has stood for a whole reference library Oh
the subject.
The island Is situated between g. So and . 81
north latitude and 79' ~ 90 and 81 "a 80" east
longitude It's extreme length from north TO south.
from Point Palmyra to Dondera Head. is 21i5
miles; its greatest width, from CoIcmbo-recenuy
visited By our Geet-ou the west coast 10 sangem-
snkande Oh the Is 18Th miles: and its area.
including It's dependent islands. 25.542 miles, OF
about one-sixth smaller than Ireland, according
10 the authority Just quoted.
Not very big package; but what mine OF
wealth.
And while the richness Of this favored isle, in
gems IN metals ia fora. IN faCno-in an extraoT-
dinary number and variety Of natural resources
is remarkable. # s. equale1 BY re treasures that
there await the historian. the antiquarian.
Its topography IS highly diversified. although
four Gfths Of the island Is uRdulatiag plains for
offsets Of the lofty and verdure clad mountains
OF the remaining fraction. aided by the great rivers
and their many tributary streams would redeem
its aspect from rncnotony, even though the mar
veous variety in the eolor. character and size OF
the grovths thereon left anything TO be desired
IN the way Of relief TO the eye from sameness.
The same causes that influence this remarkable
Iuxur.ance OF growth in tree. vine and flower. that
give 20 them Rher riotoUs variety and gorge GUS
aess of color and tint. and the rich odors that
earned for Ceylon the name. among mariners. II
The perfumed land" the peculiarity of soil the
equeb!eness Of climate the regularity Of the recur-
ring seasons and of the rainfall and the penteols
ness Of the latter have undoubtedly contributed
TO make its tea shrub vrlIe. and 20 highly oudow
Il with ali the qualities that go o. make up. al Its
most paiatabie and odoE,us best the 'o''ssad
beverage" as sors enthusiast has described the
liquor brewed from the plants tender young leaves