MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. 245 
new plant which Col. W. could not make out, as we could 
only find the male flower, the blossom of all these plants being 
white, and in full flower, spangled the dark green of their foliage 
in a very remarkable manner. After crossing another river, 
. or perhaps the same at another place, we found a great quan- 
tity of the Vanilla, formerly got at Cultura, here climbing over 
very high trees and hanging in festoons from one to another. 
Mr Nightingale pronounced this the V. aromatica, from a 
drawing of mine which Col. W. showed him. As I have 
twice sent copies of this drawing home, I hope you will soon 
decide upon it. This day's journey has been mostly through 
thick jungle and quite level, so that we have seen little of 
the country over which we have travelled. We crossed an- 
= Other stream on the banks of which we found a Bungalow 
erected of bomboos and Talipot leaves, there being no village 
in the neighbourhood it was rather hot during day time, but 
cool at night, and quite water-tight, as we had a heavy shower 
in the evening which-did not penetrate. I amused myself 
through the day by drawing an Orchideous plant, the first we 
have found in flower, belonging to Lindley's Ophrydea. 
= “2d March.—Left Waratene at 6 A.M., re-crossed the 
river, and immediately began to ascend a very long and 
steep hill; the descent was more rapid, and in some places - 
very steep and rugged. Then followed a long tract of 
abominable paddy-fields, the most tedious and disagreeable 
Parts of our journey; we crossed another range of hills 
covered with uninteresting jungle, chiefly the Croton which 
I formerly remarked, and which almost always springs up 
after the land has been cultivated. I saw nothing new, but 
A z » * E 
a magnificent Capparis, with very large white flowers, C. — ; 
grandis | suppose. Our route continued over several ranges  — 
of hills from the tops of which the scenery was ver y fine, the - 
mountains in the distance assuming @ variety of picturesque —— 
forms. Tree Pada (Adam’s Peak) was seen, looking less 
majestic than usual, from the great height and bold outline - is 
of many of the nearer mountains; one particular hill, not far — 
from Ballingodde is wonderfully fine from many points of - d 
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