90 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



[Part I. 



schild, in Ptisilawa ^ ; but the want of any skilful mani- 

 pulators to collect and prepare the leaves, renders it 

 hopeless to attempt any experiment on a large scale, until 

 assistance can be secured from China, to conduct the 

 preparation. 



Still ascending, at an elevation of 6500 feet, as we 

 approach the mountain plateau of Neuera-ellia, the 

 dimensions of the trees again diminish, the stems and 

 branches are covered with orchideas and mosses, and 

 around them spring up herbaceous plants and balsams, 

 with here and there broad expanses covered with Acan- 

 thacece, whose seeds are the favourite food of the jungle 

 fowl, which are always in perfection during the ripening 

 of the Nilloo.^ It is in these regions that the tree-ferns 

 (Also2')hila gigantea) rise from the damp hollows, and 

 carry their gracefully plumed heads sometimes to the 

 height of twenty feet. 



At length in the loftiest range of the hills the 

 Ehododendrons are discovered ; no longer dehcate 

 bushes, as in Europe, but timber trees of consider- 

 able height, and corresponding dimensions, and every 

 branch covered with a blaze of crimson flowers. In 

 these forests are also to be met with some species of 

 Michelia, the Indian representatives of the Magnohas of 

 North America, several arboreous myrtacece and tern- 

 stromiacea?, the most common of which is the cameha- 

 like Gordonia Ceylanica.^ These and Vaccinia, Gaul- 



1 The cultivation of tea was at- 

 tempted by the Dutch^ but without 

 success. 



2 There are said to be fourteen 

 species of the Nilloo (Sfrobilanthes) 

 in Ceylon. They form a complete 

 imder-growth in the forest five or 

 six feet in height, and sometimes 

 extending for miles. When in bloom, 

 their red and blue flowers are a 

 singularly beautiful feature in the 

 landscape, and are eagerly searched 

 by the honey bees. Some species 

 are said to flower only once in five, 

 seven, or nine years ; and after ripen- 

 ing their seed they die. This is 



one reason assigned for the sudden 

 appearance of the rats, which have 

 been elsewhere alluded to (vol. i. p. 

 149, ii. p. 234) as invading the coffee 

 estates, when deprived of their ordi- 

 nary food by the decay of the nilloo. 

 It has been observed that the jungle 

 fowl, after feeding on the nilloo, have 

 their eyes so aft'ected by it, as to be 

 partially blinded, and permit them- 

 selves to be taken by the hand. Are 

 the seeds of this plant narcotic like 

 some of the Solanacecs f or do they 

 cause dilatation of the pupil, like those 

 of the AtroiM Belladonna ? 

 3 Dr. Gardner. 



