Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon

li River-Variety of Palms-Cocoa-nut Toddy-Arrack-Cocoa-nut Oil-Cocoa-nut-planting-The Talipot Palm-The Areca Palm-Betel Chewing-Sago Nuts-Vari

Nature is supposed to produce spontaneously. Nothing can be more erroneous than such an opinion; even edible berries are scantily s

. It grows upon a thorny bush about fifteen feet high; but the fruit is too acid to please most palates; the extreme thirst produced by a day's shooting in a burning sun makes it refreshin

ry, which is of the genus "solanum." The latter is a round yellow berry, the size of a cherry; this is enclosed in a loose

rior of the berry is brown and slightly rough; the skin, or rather the case, is brittle and of the consistence of an egg-shell; this, when broken and peeled off, exposes a semi-transparent p

an boast of, as the fruit itself is vapid and tasteless. In fact, all wild fruits are, for the most part, great exaggerations. I have seen in a work on Ceylon the miserable lit

ssarily a great variety throughout the island, but their insignificance does not

he has only a saucepan, he can generally procure something eatable in the way of herbs. It is not to be supposed, however, that he would succeed in making a good dinner; the reader may at any time procure something similar in England by res

, it is as tender as the vegetable marrow, but its flavor approaches more closely to that of the cucumber. Wild ginger also abounds in the forests. This is a coarse variety of the "amomum zintgiber." The leaves, which spring from the ground, attain a height of seven or eight feet; a large, crimson, fleshy blossom also springs from the ground in the centre of the surrounding leaf-stems. The root is coarse, large, but wanting in fine

most wild plants of this class, it has little or no root, but runs to leaf. The

hers did not eat it; and yet these same men will walk forty miles to cut a bundle of sticks of the galla gaha tree for driving buffaloes!-their fathers did this, and therefore they do it. Thus this beautiful plant is only appreciated by those whose instinct leads them to its discovery. The wild hogs plough up the patinas and revel in this delicate food. The plant itself is almost lost in the rank herbage of the patinas, but its beautiful pink, hyacinth-shaped blossom att

drobium. Its rich yellow flowers hang in clusters from a withered tree, the only sign of life upon a giant trunk decayed,

owers are a bright lilac, and I could lay my band upon it at any time, as I have never seen it but in one spot, where it flourishes in profusion. This

e highly pungent, although at this elevation it does not produce fruit. A very short distance tow

green myrtle-shaped leaf, which is not larger than that of a peach. The wild species, on the contrary, is a large forest tree, with leaves equal in size to those of the horse chestnut; nevertheless, it produces a perfect nutmeg. There is the outer rind of fleshy

g has simply a highly acrid and pungent taste, without any spicy flavor, but merely abounding in a rank and disagreeable oil. The latter is so plent

former is one of the grand staple commodities of the island; the latt

galese. These are the cinnamon oil, castor oil, margosse oil, mee oil, kenar oi

so-called oil, floats upon the surface; this is then skimmed off and, when a sufficient quantity is collected, it is boiled down until all watery particles are evaporated, and the melted fat is turned out into a shallow vessel to

rank after long keeping. The castor-oil plant is a perfect weed throughout Ceylon, bein

l, which will effectually prevent the contact of flies or any other insect. On this account it is a valuable pre

mely rich in its produce; but the oil is of a coarse description, and is simply used by the natives for thei

tricts of Ceylon. An infusion of the grass is subsequently distilled; the oil is then discovered on the surface. This is remarkably pure, with a most pungent aroma. If ru

d not from cloves, as its name would imply. The process is very

of the most common woods, and it grows to the dimensions of a forest tree, the trunk being usually about thre

d the dimensions of a bush, being pruned down close to the ground every year. This system of close cutti

lantation is cut down at the proper period, and the sticks are then stripped of their bark by the peelers. These men are called "chalias," and their labor is confined to this particular bra

long a stick, and at once divest it of the bark. On the following day the strips of bark are scraped so as entirely to remove the outer cuticle. One strip is then laid within

the quantity produced, in proportion to the weight of cinnamon, is exceedingl

rtz sand for its production, it is always cultivated with the grea

orests are generally choked. In such an instance the appearance of the trees is unusually grand as their whole length and dimensions are exposed to view, and their uniting crowns throw a sombre shade over the barren ground

ht and girth of these trees. Their beautiful proportions render them the more striking; there are no gnarled and knotty stems, such as we are accustomed to admire in the ancient oaks and beeches of England, but every trunk rises like a mast from the earth, perfectly free from branches for ninety or a hundred feet, straight

ine the utter stillness which pervades these gloomy shades. There is a mysterious effect produced by the total absence of animal life. In the depths of these forests I have stood and listened for some sound until my cars tingled with overstrained attention; not a chirp of a bird, not the hum of an insect, but the mouth of Nature is

must produce fruit and seed. Everything appears to have deserted the country, and to have yielded it as the sole territory of Nature on a stupendous scale. The creepers lie serpent-like along the ground to the thickness of a man's waist, and, rearing their twisted forms on high, they climb the loftiest trees, hanging in festoons from stern to stem like the cables of a line-of-battle-ship, and extending fro

of being charred. Beneath the bark the wood is perfectly white until the heart is reached, which is the fine black ebony of commerce. Here also, equally immovable, the calamander is growing, neglected and unknown. This is the most esteemed of all Ceylon woods, and i

ylon, which are made use of for various purposes; but of

cabinet work. Satin-wood, Suria (the tulip tree).

, from which it derives its name. The wood is of an extremely close texture and of a reddish-

ee is too valuable to be felled for the sake of its timber. This is one of the handsomest trees of the t

cheap furniture. The latter is not only economical, but exceedingly durable, and is manufactured at so

account of its peculiar odor. This perfume is rather difficult to describe, but when a rainy day in London crams an omnibus with well-soaked and steaming multitudes, the atmosphere in the vehicle somewhat approaches to the smell of the jack-fruit. The halmileel is one of the most durable and useful woods in Ceylon, and is almost the only kind that is thoroughly adapted for making staves for casks. Of late years the great increase of the oil-t

pid stream toward Trincomalee, at which place it meets the sea. I was struck it the time with the magnificent timber in the forests on its banks, and no less surprised that with the natural facilities of transport it should be neglected. Two years ago I crossed at this same spot, and I remarked the wonderful change which a s

. This is something similar to the jack, but, like the tamar

nripe jack-fruit, with an equally rough exterior. In the opinion of most who have tasted it, its virtues have been grossly exaggerated. To my taste it is perfectly uneatable, unless fried

upward of a hundred and twenty miles along the western and southern coasts of Ceylon, one continuous line of cocoa-nut groves wave their

g varieties: The Cocoa-nut. The Palmyra. The Ki

and necessities of the natives; and, upon examination, it will be seen that Nature has opened wide her bountif

temperate and thirsty traveler; a cup of cream from the pressed kernel; a cup of refreshing and sparkling toddy to the early riser; a cup of arrack

sweetish water. In the hottest weather this is delici

by the hand, and about a quarter of a pint of delicious thick cream, highly flavored by cocoa-nut, is then expresse

ff the ends, leaving an abrupt and brush-like termination. Beneath this he secures an earthen chatty, which will hold about a gallon. This remains undisturbed for twenty-four hours, from sunrise to sunrise on the following morning; the t

after sunrise a great charts takes place, and the rapidity of the transition from the vinous to the acetous fermentation is so great that by midday it resembles a poor and rather acid cider. It now posses

y the arrack is procured

It is a little fiery when new, but as water soon quenches fire, it is not spared by the native retailers, whose arra

ration in boiling, on the same principle that sugar is produced from cane-juice. The syrup is then poured into small saucers to cool, and

the two years of 1849 and 1850, the exports of cocoa-nut oil did not exceed four hundred and forty-three thousand six hundred gallons, while in

d, it is exposed to the sun until all the watery particles are evaporated. The kernel thus dr

h, and then covered by a similar protection. These fat sandwiches are two feet square, and being piled one upon the other to a height of about six feet in an hydraulic press, are subjected to a pressure of some hundred tons. This disengages the pure oleaginous par

ty of purposes, but by the latter its profits are confined to oil, coir and poonac. The latter is the refuse Of the nut after the oil has be

he coir fibre. The stench of putrid vegetable matter arising from these heaps must be highly deleterious. Subsequently the husks are beaten and the fibre is separated and dried. Coir r

e follow each other with such rapid strides, it is always a dangerous speculation to make any outlay that will remain so long invested without producing a return. Who can be so presumptuous as to predict the changes of future years? Oil may have ceased to be the common medium of light-our rooms ma

average income from a healthy tree in full bearing, but this, of course, depends much upon the locality. This palm delights in the sea-breeze, and never attains the same perfection inland that it does in the vicinity of the

cocoa-nut. It is fully twice the size, and is shaped like a kidney that is laid open. This is called by the Fren

ong and durable; it is a dark brown,

est quality of jaggery. This cannot be easily distinguished from crumbled sugar-candy which it exactly resembles in flavor, The wood of the pal

the palm-woods, and is principally used by the natives in making "pingos." These are flat bows about eight feet in length, and are used by the Cingalese for carrying loads upon the shoulder. The weight is slung at either end of the pingo, and the elasticity of the wood accommodates itself to the spring of each step, thereby reducing the dead weight of the load. In this manner a stout

an-shaped leaves of so touch and durable a texture that they are sewn together by the natives for erecting portable tents or huts. The c

ngth. This is carried in the hand, and is only spread in case of rain, when it forms an impervious roofing of about three feet in width at the br

ce and extraordinary dimensions of this blossom; its size is proportionate to its leaves, and it usurps the place of the faded crest of green, forming a

g. In this case the blossom comes to maturity, at which time the tightened cuticle of the bard can no longer sustain the pressure of the expanding flower. It suddenly bursts with a lou

delicate stem of all the palm tribe; that of a tree of eighty feet in length would not exceed five inches in diameter. Nevertheless, I have neve

in a similar manner to the cocoa-nut; but the tree is more prolific, as it produces about two hundred nuts per annum. The latter are ver

quantity of areca-nuts, a parcel of betel leaves, a roll of tobacco, a few pieces of ginger, an instrument similar to pruning scissors and a brass or silver case (according to the wealth of the individual) full of chunam paste-

black pepper, but is highly aromatic and pungent. It is cultivated to a very large e

ting qualities have a directly opposite effect. Those who have attributed this supposed property to the betel leaf

ed fashion, and the reader shall judge for himself in

ger; and, lastly, a good-sized piece of tobacco. Fold up this mixture in another betel leaf in a compact little parcel, and it is fit for promoting several hours' enjoyment in chewing, and spitting a disgu

ng habit; nor is this the only effect produced; cancer in the cheek is a common complaint a

alms. In 1853 no less than three thousand tons were shipped from this colony

go. The former is a miserable species, which does not exceed the

jungles in Ceylon, but it is neither cul

test profusion in the Veddah country. The stem is rough and a continuation of rings divides it into irregular sections. The leav

on of flour from the nuts. Even this is not very general, which is much to be wond

m this flour; but I have certainly eaten a fair allowance at one

or about twenty-four hours in water. During this time a slight fermentation takes place and the gas generated splits the nut op

iful snow-white farina is produced. This is made into a dough by a proper admixture with water, and being formed into small cakes, they are baked for about a quarter of an hour in a chatty. The fermentation which has alrea

ulation consisted of one old man and a corresponding old woman, and one fine stout young man and five young women. A host of little children, who were so

here is not so much difficulty in the pursuit as may at first appear. No one can mistake the flight of a bee en route home, if he has once observed him. He is no longer wandering from flower to flower in an uncertain course, but he rushes through the air in a straight line for the nest. If the bee-hunter sees one bee thus

e size of a large walnut, but shaped like the humble bees of England. The month is armed with a very powerful pair of mandibles, and the tail with a sting even larger and more venomous than that o

ve or six inches greater in diameter. The honey of this bee is not so much esteemed as that from the smaller varieties, as the flavor partakes too strongly of the particular flower which the bee has frequented; thus in different seasons the honey varies in flavor, and is sometimes so highly aperient that it must be used with much cau

ly blossom once in "seven years." This is the case at Newera Ellia, where the nillho blossom induces such a general rush of this particular bee to the

dwarf plant to the tall and heavy stern of the common nillho, w

in appearance, but not more than half the size, suspends a most delicate comb to the twigs of a tree. This nest is no larger than an orange, but the honey of the two latter varieties

ittle smaller than our common house-fly, and he builds his diminutive nest in the hollow of a tr

we find a thick, black and rather pungent but highly aromatic molasses. The natives, having naturally coarse tastes and strong stomachs, admire t

districts) crams his mouth with a large section, and giving it one or two bites, he bolts the luscious morsel and begins another. In this manner immense quantities of this valuable article are annually w

evertheless, in a few weeks he brought me seventy-two pounds' weight of well-cleaned and perfectly white wax, which he had made up into balls about the size of an eighteen-pound shot.

was a poisonous kind. To prove the contrary, I had them several times at table, and found them precisely similar in appearance and flavor to the well-known, "Agaricus campestris;" but, notwithstanding this actual proof, the natives would not be convinced, and, although accustomed to eat a variety of this tribe

t with in the forests which, from its offensive odor and disgusting appearance, should be something superlatively bad. It grows about four inches high; the top is round, with a fleshy and inflamed appearance; the stalk is

lemish, has thrown a veil over the defect. The most exquisite fabric that can be imagined-a scarlet veil, like a

r and the size of the fungus make it a very prominent object, among the surrounding vegetation. In fact, it is

eyes at so strange and exquisite a structure, I jumped off my horse and hastened to secure it. But the net-work once raised was like the uncovering of the veiled prophet of Khorassan, and the stem, crushing in my fingers, reveal

e in small quantities. One is a bright crimson on the surface; this is the most powerful,

n the course of two or three hours. On the following day I felt the same effect, but to a still greater degree as, having convinced myself that they were really eatable, I bad taken a larger quantity. Knowing that the narcotic principle is

and the Indian hemp. The use of the latter is, however, not so general among the Cingalese as the Malabars. This drug has a diff

in the seed. The leaves and blossoms are dried, and are either smoked l

in dry raw hides, who, by walking through the plantation, become covered with this gum or glue. This is scra

piness; the ideas are stimulated to a high degree, and all that are most pleasurable

tressing, but the sufferer is set all right again by som

t the Indian hemp is the foundation of the Egyptian "

s to enable it to perform its ordinary functions, in the same manner that the stomach, from similar treatment, would at length cease to act. This being continued, the brain becomes semi-torpid, until wakened up by a powerful stimulant, and the nervous system is at length worn out by a succession of exciting cause

mild description, and it is carefully gat

which they bear a great resemblance, and the blossoms are full double the size. When the latter fade, the petals fall, and the base of the flower and seed-pod remains in the shape of a circular piece of honeycomb, full o

known to the Cingalese doctors. I recollect some years ago, in Mauritius, where this plant is equally common, its proprieties were not only fully understood, but made use of by some of the Chinese emigrants. These fellows made cakes of ma

e family were insensible, and the thieves robbed the house at their leisure. None of these cases terminated fatally; but, from the instant that I heard of it, I made every cake-

own to any but the native doctors. Those most commonly known to us, and which may be seen growing wild

cate plant, which bears a bright

d a half feet long, and the individual flowers on the bunch are large in proportion. When the tree is in full flower it is very superb, and equally as singular when its beauty has faded and the seed-pods are formed. These grow to a length

but much shorter, pod, of about a foot in length. The properties of both are the same, being laxative. Each seed

of the tree obtained by incisions in the bark. This tree grows in great numbers in the neighborhood of Colombo, especially among the cinnamon gardens. Here, also, the cashew tree grows to great perfection. The bark of the latter is

ocured, with very little trouble or preparation. The tree being felled, the branches are cut into logs of the length required, and sometimes these are soaked in water; but this is not always necessary. The balk is then well beaten with a wooden

ch that they sometimes descend from father to son. By constant use they stretch and increase their original size ne

ived much notice from Europeans. This may be caused by the general want of success of all experiments with indigenous produce. Although the jungles of Ceylon produce a long list of articles of much interest, still their value chiefly lies in their curiosity; they are useful to the native, but comparatively of little worth to the European. In fact, few things will actually pa

tree but the doom tree produces any gum worth collecting; this species of rosin exudes in large quantities from an incision in the bark, but th