Improvement in Climate. 47 



forest necessitated by coffee culture, has had the 

 effect of rendering the climate in many districts 

 rrfuch more healthful than formerly. A curious 

 proof of this is found in the case of an estate not 

 far from Kandy, which many years ago acquired 

 the ominous appellation of the " white man's grave," 

 that part of the country being now almost as free 

 from malaria as the town of Kandy itself. 



At from 3000 to 4000 feet in Ceylon, and some 

 1000 feet higher in S. India, the temperature is 

 seldom other than mild and agreeable. Exertion 

 is still a pleasure to the European, and the planter, 

 free from the depressing languor which eventually 

 settles down upon his countrymen in the plains, 

 pursues with cheerfulness, not to say enjoyment, 

 the arduous out-door duties inseparable from his 

 calling, and commonly returns to his native country 

 after a term of years, with health but little impaired, 

 to enjoy the fruits of his industry and enterprize. 

 European flowers and fruits flourish often to perfec- 

 tion in these situations in addition to those of the 

 tropics. Thus, the high-roads are often bordered 

 by luxuriant hedges of the rose, laden with magni- 

 ficent white, pink, and crimson clusters, charming 

 the eye, and charging the breezes with their 

 delicious perfume. Scarlet geraniums, fuchsias, &c., 

 flourish in almost equal profusion ; while pine- 

 apples, oranges, limes, citrons, mulberries, loquats, 



