MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. 253 
the natives give the name of Ni//oo—all, I believe, belonging 
to the Acanthacee —some are said to flower in three years, 
some in five—they have all distinguishing names, to which, 
Nilloo is added; the one I have particularly alluded to, is 
called Maha, or the great, Nilloo; when it blossoms, they say 
the jungle swarms with bees, so much so, that the natives 
pay a considerable sum to government, for leave to collect 
the honey and the wax, in the years it is known the Nilloo 
will flower. This circumstance was told us by the former 
government agent in Owva, who mentioned the sum he had 
received on account of government for this permission, which 
was considerable, though I do not exactly recollect the 
amount. These Nilloo jungles are, generally, interspersed 
with stunted-looking trees, but no plant grows under them. 
< * While we were slowly making our way, by a narrow tor- 
tuous path, unable to see a yard to right or left, in front or 
even above, (for the slender stems of the plant bent and 
united over our heads,) I could not help sometimes consider- 
ing, rather seriously, what would be my fate, should we meet 
an elephant in this narrow way! from which escape must be 
impossible. The Coolies, of course, would have put me down, 
that they might shift for themselves, if possible, and who could 
.. blamethem? | My doom was therefore inevitable ;—and hav- 
ing come to this conclusion, I tried hard to dismiss the idea 
from my mind, but it was difficult to summon gayer thoughts, 
_ while I continued in this dull monotonous jungle. We got 
to the end of it at last, and were delighted to find ourselves 
close to Newera Ellia, and soon came in sight of its comfort- 
able-looking cottages, with the blue smoke curling from the 
chimney-tops, indicating good cheer and warmth within.— 
Two miles of excellent road, the whole length of the Newera - 
Ellia plain, were soon traversed, and we were safely deposited 
at the rest-house, about 5 o'clock P.M. - : 
—. : “Here we remained for ten’ days, Col. W. collecting and 
. examining plants, and I drawing all the forenoon, walking 
.. in the evening, and reading after dinner till bed-time. We — — 
found several curious Balsams, and some new Orchidee s but 
