yoo 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April i, 1886. 



Beo to read, so overcast was the sky, even in the 

 veraiulah of the resthouse. 



The road from PelmaduUa to Kakwaiia is, perhaps, 

 the most uuiuteresting in Oe.vlou ; one other is possibly 

 its equal, that from llorawaka to Galle — chenas and 

 paddy fields, and paddy fields and chenas ; patanas do 

 not exist. The AVeyganga is crossed four miles from 

 I'elmadulla upon a well-coustructod pirder bridge. 

 Near this is a toll-bar, where the usual 25 cents for a 

 horse is paid; and, as I had nothing hut a 10-rupee 

 note, I had to get it changed. Now, my horsekeeper 

 is a man of somewhat doubtful honesty — all horse- 

 keeper are, I believe, the same. I have often wondered 

 why men are so dishonest, since we have always been 

 told that '■ honesty is the best policy." There must be 

 some inherent taste for deceit or over-reaching in their 

 natures, much as a boy feels when he goes a-poaching, 

 a wilful delight in getting the better of another. I 

 camiot believe it is merely the desire to possess the 

 pi'Operty of another: there must be some other impulse, 

 except in cases where the annexed property is of great 

 value. My reflections received some support when I 

 said to ray horsekeeper: "Here, take this 10-rupee 

 note and pay the toll ; and, if he cannot give yon change, 

 we shall get through for nothing. Don't part with 

 the note without change." The unmistakable gleam 

 shone in his eyes ; the man who was u-sually silent, 

 and somewhat morose in nature, seemed to rise above 

 himself. He took the note with an intelligent and 

 approving nod, and was soon at the toll-bar. 1 watched 

 his face assume its natural expression as the change 

 was handed out to him. He was disappointed. It is 

 the want of excitement. The PoHce Oourt and theft 

 are the chief centres of amusement, taking the place 

 of theatres and field-sports at home.'. 



Madampe is a solitary spot, at the foot of the pass 

 before ascending to Rakwana, rather less than half way 

 from PelmaduUa. The soil appears good. From this 

 a bridle path goes off to Hambantota, and a new rest- 

 house is being built on the site of the old one. It was a 

 matter of wonder to me that it was not rebuilt on the 

 top of the hill at its back instead of being buried 

 again in the paddy field. I once spent a night here 

 some years ago, and shall never do so again; the 

 situation is altogether unlovely, and has nothing to 

 recommend it. How many in Oeylon know nothing of 

 Rakwana —how the badly traced cart-road eventually 

 leads you to Barra store, and from thence zig-zag to 

 the top of the Bulatotte Pass ; how acres of abandoned 

 land meet the eye at every turn. Yet there is a classic 

 iiistory attached. Many old planters wrought here for 

 years ; and, in spite of a not over-favorable soil and 

 climate, with all the difficulties of labour, put their 

 coffee as cheaply on boardsliip as their friends on the 

 Kandy side. The remnants of their labor are still visible 

 upon Palamcotta, Barra, Spriugwood, Deveronside, 

 tJalcdonia and many other estate.s. 'I'ea is now luxuri- 

 ating for miles along the road from Barra downwards ; 

 and when the Bulatotte Pass is once surmounted it 

 begins again, and is iirosent with the traveller almost 

 to Morawaka. 



From the Pass I looked down towards th» hospitable 

 abode of Maduanwella Bauda, nestlei! among the lower 

 ranges, with its pretty piece of ornamental water 

 glistening in the morning sun, recalling old memories 

 of the rSovernment Agent — who wished to force him to 

 give up a, piece of land to one of the Government 

 Agent's friends— approaching the old chieftain's house, 

 and tolling someone to say that the Government Agent 

 wisheil to see Maduanwc.Ua. " Tell him that Maduan- 

 wella is inside his bouse," was the reply. This spirited 

 gentleman certainly knew how to retain hia dignity. 

 He has the reputation of great hospitality to those 

 who treat him rightly ; ami as he is well educated and 

 well bred, he should not be curtly borne with even by 

 a t4over!iment official. His has always been a house 

 where residents in the districts around have been 

 hospitably treated. * 



Beyond, in the far south-oast, the sea line is visible 

 in fine weather. The cart-road, well made and metalled, 

 oontimies almost to the boundary of Lauderdale, 

 which is now quite an expanse of tea and cinchona, 

 and at the hack o£ the hill upon whieh these estates' 



are in the extensive Kukulu Korale, through which run 

 down the rivers of Bentota and Baddegama. Mora- 

 wak Korale is already a large and prosperous tea district 

 where many estates are now paying well ; indeed, it 

 bids fair to be one of the best in the island. The large 

 block of laud once reputed to belong to Sir Hercules 

 Robinson is now a magnificent show of young tea. Only 

 had it been known in the past how much better the 

 Southern Province is suited for tea than coffee, 

 Mora wakKorale would now be oneof the mostprosperous 

 districts in Ceylon. It now presents the same ap- 

 pearance as most other places — a state of transition. 



Anyone going from Morawak Korale to Galle can vary 

 their route by a trip down the Nellawellaganga to 

 Iilatara. The river journey is much the same as most 

 river journeys in Ceylon. At first, when near the hills, 

 the banks are steep, and the bed so low that nothing 

 but the river banks and slopes upon either side are 

 visible ; lower down, as the large flats are reached, the 

 view opens up ; an old sugar estate is passed, one of 

 the many spots in om* island where the cultivation of 

 sugar was attempted and failed. Those who are fond 

 of birds would find much pleasure in watching the 

 bold flight and wild ory of the speckled king-fisher, 

 as it dashes into the water after its finny prey from 

 a great height. 



Matara is one of the most picturesque spots I know, 

 close to Dondra Head, where coffee Arabica may be 

 seen growing almost on the sea brink. The old town 

 was founded by the Dutch, who fortified it against 

 the Kandyans. I was much interested in the old star- 

 fort upon the esplanade, the scone of many a stiff 

 encounter with the highlauders of Ceylon, who came 

 down to carry off the cattle, boys, or girls, or whatever 

 came to their hands. Many a time have these now 

 peaceful spots been dyed with the blood of both races, 

 though I fancy full retribution was paid for all attacks 

 when prisoners were taken by our Dutch friends. It 

 is now a charming spot, with good buildings and a 

 handsome bridge, though all around shews it to have 

 been quite the little outlying tort where a stand, if 

 necessary, could be successfully made. Matara to 

 Galle is a repetition of the scenery lying between 

 Galle and Kalutara, and can be undertaken in a similar 

 mode of conveyance. — W. F. L.— Local " Times."' 



THANA SILK INDUSTRY. 



Mr. B. A. Oupte, of the Sir Jamsetjee .Tejeebhoy 

 School of Art, Bombay, has an interesting article 

 in the Journal of Indian Art on the Thana Silk 

 Industry : — 



In the sixteenth century the making of Thana 

 silks is said to have employed as m.any as 

 4,0il0 weavers, and as late as the eighteenth century 

 the English congratulated themselves on being able 

 to induce some Thana weavers to settle in Bombay. 

 For many years the industry has been depressed. 

 There are now otdy seven families of weavers work- 

 ing fourteen looms, which in ordinary years do not 

 turn out more than £500 (R.5,000)" worth of silks. 

 Neitlier gold nor silver thread is worked into the 

 silks. Plain silk cloth for Hindu wai.st-cloths or pitam- 

 bars is woven to a small extent. But the special 

 Thana silks are of two cUasses, silk with checked 

 patterns, generally black and white, and apparently 

 of European origin, and silks with very graceful 

 geometric, apparently .saracenic. designs in a groat 

 variety of colors. The soft tints and free lines of 

 many of the patterns are much admired, and would 

 come into general rise were it not that they cost 

 from 40 to 50 per cent more than Chinese and French 

 silks. 



The weavers (Catholic or Portuguese native Christ- 

 ians) hold a higher social position than the ordinary 

 Salsette Christian fishers and husbandmen. They h.ave 

 the special name of Khatris and marry among them- 

 selves, and sonietimes, with such of th(^ upper class 

 of Christians as take service as clerks in Govern- 

 ment offices. They seem to have no memory of 



