Importation of Ice from America. 373 



During our random promenade through tlic streets of 

 what is called the Fort, we perceived at a sugar-baker's 

 in Chatham Street — the most select quarter of Colombo, and 

 containing the most important warehouses, which, however, 

 are far from elegant in their appearance — some rough ice 

 offered for sale, which had a curious effect in a town so near 

 the Equator, and presenting such few evidences of luxury in 

 other respects. This ice is brought round the Cape of Good 

 Hope from the United States, and is chiefly shipped from 

 Boston. The daily consumption of iced-water, ices, and so 

 forth, is estimated at about 1000 lbs., costing about one 

 shilling the 8 lbs. It is impossible to repress a feeling of 

 astonishment at these speculative Yankees who, despite all 

 obstacles interposed by temperature, transport in all direc- 

 tions and over thousands of miles an article so perishable, so 

 easily destructible as ice, and are able to drive a profitable 

 business in it in the hottest and most diverse regions of 

 the globe — in the West Indies and South America, in Asia, 

 and in Africa. 



The traveller who visits Colombo will hardly fail to make 

 an excursion to the Cinnamon Garden, in order to inhale 

 the fragrant and peculiar aroma, and enjoy tasting the tender 

 rind of this remarkable shrub, which plays so conspicuous 

 a part in the history of Ceylon. During the palmy days of 

 cinnamon culture, the five principal cinnamon plantations 

 of the southern half of the island extended some 15 or 20 

 miles. For this one lucrative product of the soil all others 



