The Coolidge examiner., 1934-10-05

n DoCtie Ceylon
Prepared ~ National Geographic Society.
Washington. ID. c.--WNU Service.
THE duke OF Gloucester, on
his forthcoming visit TO Cey-
- Ion. will present the island
with the throne OF its native kings.
The last Tamil king OF Handy, WIKI
rama RaJa Sinha, was unpopular
with his subjects. Aided by the
British. they deposed him In 1915
and sent his throne to England.
where ever since II has been pre-
served In Windsor castle.
Ceylon is known to most OF us
only for Its fragrant tea. Yet aside
from producing the leaves OF one of
the worlds most popular beverages.
the island contributes many other
products TO commerce. Coconut
FIBER for brushes; tortoise shell for
combs aud eye glasses; graphite,
an important component Of pencils:
cltronella oil. applied to ward of
mosquitoes: and cardamons. used to
deaden the taste OF medicine.
a pear-shaped island half the
size OF New York state, Ceylon lies
In the Indian ocean of the southern
tip OF india. IL Is a British pos
session and has no political con
nection with india. though separat-
ed from II only by - miles OF wa.
ter. A Hindu epic relates that this
strait was once brldged by a cause
way. the haudiwork OF an army OF
monkeys.
Legend rises like incense from
Ceylon. A huge hollow In a rhodo-
dendron-coyered bill is revered as
the footprint OF Buddha. Moham.
medans call II Adams peak. Ara.
bian legend relates that Adam and
Eve. driven out OF Paradise. were
allowed TO enter this enchanting ls-
land. In many ways II is a second
Eden. II Is drugged with sweet
scents that breezes watt far ont
over the high seas. Three days be
fore mariners sight Ceylon. they
can smell Its heavy fragrance.
which rises from flower -decked tenn
pies. from blossoms trampled on
the highway, from blooming lotus.
frangipanni. gardenia, cinnamon
and other spice trees.
Natives Have idyIIic Life.
British modernlzation OF the Is
land has disturbed but little the
almost idyllic existence OF the ma
tiyes. on the palm-fringed shores,
where lazy surf rolls on yellow
sands. they fish leIsurely from out
rigger canoes British automobiles
may speed over the islands copper
colored roads. but Ceylon's $4,000
slow moving bullock carts set the
tempo for native life. On any road.
arched over with tamarind trees.
festooned with pepper vines. one
passes cream-colored bullocks.
drawing huge thatch-rOofed prairie
schooners." bursting with families
and their household belongings. The
brown skinned Sinhalese women are
slender and delicately featured,
often beautiful. The men In their
tight skirts. and hair caught up in
bun. appear effeminate Their
mouths are stained from chewing
soothing betel nuts.
Ceylon is a land wrested from
the jungle 1t well deserves its an
cient name of Tamraparni. the is
land of ''dusky leaves" for most of
its hills and low-lying plains are
covered with thick jungles. Glossy
jak trees. bambOos. ebony and 9th
er rare hardwoods are woven to-
gether by wild vines
Jungle has overgrown Ceylon's
ancient cities. The most extensive
of these Anuradhpura. 80 miles
north of Colombo. was the capital
Of a highly civilized Ceylon about
oO0 Il. c. A royal residence. with
g6.OpO Buddhist priests among its
inhabitants, Ii must once have Gov
cred an area larger than London.
Hindu Tamils reduced II to a heap
OF granite posts and sculptnred
friezes. II now is strangled by
creepers. The CeylOn archaeology
department. which erected govern
ment offices and bungalows there.
cleared gladelike corridors TO IL. so
that visitors may view its fascinat-
Ing ruins
Sunshine and Heavy Rains.
Ceylon's climate is fairly good |
far the tropics. Though moist and