MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. . 255 
did and varying landscape, far beyond the power of the 
pencil to pourtray, or the pen to describe. 
*On the 24th we left Ramboddé, with great regret; I pre- 
fer the climate there, to the cold of the Ellias. There is no- 
thing very remarkable on the road to Phusalawé; for long 
tracts, the hills are covered either with Fern, (all of one 
species) or Lemon-grass,* where the latter has been burnt 
down, and the young shoots are springing up again; the 
whole atmosphere is impregnated with its powerful scent, 
which most people like, but I do not. It reminds me of a 
perfumer's shop, to which I much prefer the breath of morn- 
ing. The road, through the forest, is undergoing the same 
operation as that through the Ramboddé pass, and is now 
laid bare to a considerable distance on each side; and where 
we formerly travelled under pleasant shade, tempted by the 
beauties of the vegetable creation to collect more than we 
could carry away, we were now glad to hurry over, that we 
might get out of a scorching sun, reflected from the bare 
banks on each side: of course, it will not continue long in 
this state, the banks, at least, will soon be again clothed with 
verdure, for vegetation is most rapid in this climate. But it - 
is not for the formation of roads alone, that the axe now re- 
sounds through the primeval forests of Ceylon ; extensive 
tracts have been lately purchased from government, by specu- 
dating individuals, who calculate on making rapid fortunes 
— by the growth of Coffee, Cinnamon, and other Spices. ‘The 
whole of the forest of Phusalawé is now private property, 
and is clearing and planting, as fast as the scanty population 
permits, for I believe the proprietors find great difficulty in 
. procuring labourers in this part of the country. —— 
_ * We reached the rest-house at Phusalawé about nine, —re- 
mained that day and the next, being employed as usual; 
Col. W. found several new plants, one of which I drew, be- 
sides a pretty Dendrobium with orange-coloured flowers. On | 
the 26th we proceeded to Gampolla, from thence, next day — 
| to Kandy, where we remained till the 30th, and on that day — 
