Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon   By: Samuel White Baker (1821-1893)

by

Samuel White Baker

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Colombo Dullness of the Town Cinnamon Garden A Cingalese Appo Ceylon Sport Jungle Fever Newera Ellia Energy of Sir E. Barnes Influence of the Governor Projected Improvements.

CHAPTER II.

Past Scenes Attractions of Ceylon Emigration Difficulties in Settling Accidents and Casualties An Eccentric Groom Insubordination Commencement of Cultivation Sagacity of the Elephant Disappointments "Death" in the Settlement Shocking Pasturage Success of Emigrants "A Good Knock about kind of a Wife".

CHAPTER III.

Task Completed The Mountain top Change in the Face of Nature Original Importance of Newera Ellia "The Path of a Thousand Princes" Vestiges of Former Population Mountains The Highlands of Ouva Ancient Methods of Irrigation Remains of Aqueducts The Vale of Rubies Ancient Ophir Discovery of Gold Mineral Resources Native Blacksmiths.

CHAPTER IV.

Poverty of Soil Ceylon Sugar Fatality of Climate Supposed Fertility of Soil Native Cultivation Neglect of Rice Cultivation Abandoned Reservoirs Former Prosperity Ruins of Cities Pollanarua The Great Dagoba Architectural Relics The Rock Temple Destruction of Population Neglected Capabilities Suggestions for Increasing Population Progress of Pestilence Deserted Villages Difficulties in the Cultivation of Rice Division of Labor Native Agriculture.

CHAPTER V.

Real Cost of Land Want of Communication Coffee planting Comparison between French and English Settlers Landslips Forest clearing Manuring The Coffee Bug Rats Fatted Stock Suggestions for Sheep farming Attack of a Leopard Leopards and Chetahs Boy Devoured Traps Musk Cats and the Mongoose Vermin of Ceylon.

CHAPTER VI.

"Game Eyes" for Wild Sports Enjoyments of Wild Life Cruelty of Sports Native Hunters Moormen Traders Their wretched Guns Rifles and Smooth bores Heavy Balls and Heavy Metal Beattie's Rifles Balls and Patches Experiments The Double groove Power of Heavy Metal Curious Shot at a Bull Elephant African and Ceylon Elephants Structure of Skull Lack of Trophies Boar spears and Hunting knives "Bertram" A Boar Hunt Fatal Cut.

CHAPTER VII.

Curious Phenomenon Panorama of Ouva South west Monsoon Hunting Followers Fort M'Donald River Jungle Paths Dangerous Locality Great Waterfall Start for Hunting The Find A Gallant Stag "Bran" and "Lucifer" "Phrenzy's" Death Buck at Bay The Cave Hunting box "Madcap's" Dive Elk Soup Former Inundation "Bluebeard" leads off "Hecate's" Course The Elk's Leap Variety of Deer The Axis Ceylon Bears Variety of Vermin Trials for Hounds Hounds and their Masters A Sportsman "shut up" A Corporal and Centipede.

CHAPTER VIII.

Observations on Nature in the Tropics The Dung Beetle The Mason fly Spiders Luminous Insects Efforts of a Naturalist Dogs Worried by Leeches Tropical Diseases Malaria Causes of Infection Disappearance of the "Mina" Poisonous Water Well digging Elephants.

CHAPTER IX.

Instinct and Reason Tailor Birds and Grosbeaks The White Ant Black Ants at War Wanderoo Monkeys Habits of Elephants Elephants in the Lake Herd of Elephants Bathing Elephant shooting The Rencontre The Charge Caught by the Tail Horse Gored by a Buffalo Sagacity of Dogs "Bluebeard" His Hunt A True Hound.

CHAPTER X.

Wild Fruits Ingredients for a "Soupe Maigre" Orchidaceous Plants Wild Nutmegs Native Oils Cinnamon Primeval Forests Valuable Woods The Mahawelli River Variety of Palms Cocoa nut Toddy Arrack Cocoa nut Oil Cocoa nut planting The Talipot Palm The Areca Palm Betel Chewing Sago Nuts Varicty of Bees Waste of Beeswax Edible Fungi Narcotic Puff ball Intoxicating Drugs Poisoned Cakes The "Sack Tree" No Gum Trees of Value in Ceylon.

CHAPTER XI.