226 MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. 
eat the roots of this plant, the seeds also are chewed by the 
children, The neighbourhood of Galle is swampy, and 
this wet soil Delivaria ilicifolia is very common, and the 
Cerbera Manghas grows to a great size, quite a forest tree. 
* From Galle we made an excursion up the Ginderah river, 
as far as it is navigable. "The bank, on one side, has been 
lately cleared of wood and jungle, and a towing path 
which enables boats to be impelled against the stream. - 
embarked at a place called Wak-wellé, about five | 
from Galle, at 7 a.m., and reached Badagamme, a qu 
past 9. The scenery, rich and pretty but flat, reminded us | 
some parts of Bengal; we saw nothing new in the bota ical 
way, in the course of this day’s journey. Badagamm 
remarkable as having been the first missionary station W 
a church has been built in the interior of the island; and 
sight so uncommon in this part of the world, cannot but 
excite the most gratifying feelings from many causes; 
from none more than the recollections of home, with whi 
the appearance of a village church is associated: there are 
likewise schools for the native children, and two good houses 
for the resident missionaries. I visited this place fifteen years 
ago, when the foundation of the church was just laid, and 
then thought the establishment promised well, and certainly 
expected much more would have been effected ere this time; 
but I believe there is little perceptible improvement in 
habits or character of the natives. It is difficult even now t0 
induce them to send their children to school; the congrega- 
tion at church, the missionary told me, consists almost entire!y 
of children; from which it would appear, that the former. 
pupils cease to attend when grown up and become their own 
masters. The vegetable kingdom seems to improve more 
under the care of the missionaries than the moral world : 
every thing planted in their gardens appears to thrive luxuri- 
=  antly. I never saw the fruit of the Flacourtia inermis so fine 
~ any where; it makes an excellent jelly, much resembling, and 
: _ think as good as, the red currant at home; it is called b 
. natives Lowi vi, and by the, English here Looy looy; it 
