8 RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 



there is a constant crumbling of the sandy banks so that a force of steam 

 dredgers is employed keeping the channel clear, nor is this work allowed 

 to flag for an hour. 



The next morning we were still hemmed in by sandy banks, and the 

 scenery was not inspiring, being varied only by small stations about 

 which clustered a few lebec trees, the big dredges and an occasional 

 native boat with its huge yards and dingy sail. Passing both the old 

 and the modern cities of Suez, we left the canal and were in the gulf 

 of Suez. Here the water was of a marvelous blue, the sun brilliant, and 

 the far off, lofty sand dunes, scored and seamed by winds and rain, 

 showed wonderful effects in yellow, brown, violet and purple. Here 

 we began to get the warm weather. With Asia on our left, Africa on 

 our right, and both in sight, a smooth sea and blazing sun, white flannel 

 and duck suits soon appeared ; the punkahs were started in the dining 

 saloon, and the whole of the deck shaded by both top and side awnings. 

 Wind scoops were also placed in the open ports, and we felt at last that 

 we were in the tropics. 



The next point of interest to be noted was the Daedelus shoal, from 

 which our Captain Broun once rescued one hundred and eighty souls, 

 who, escaping from the wreck of their vessel, were gathered in a shiver- 

 ing crowd, waist deep in water. 



We had a further evidence of the genuineness of the hot weather 

 the next morning at three o'clock, when the order came to close the 

 ports as the water was slopping into the cabins. How most of them 

 stood it I don't know, but I took a blanket and went on deck, and even 

 then it was stifling. At daybreak we passed the "twelve apostles," a 

 dozen big rocks rising abruptly from the sea, a grim weather beaten 

 row. It was near here that the Turkish government, after much pressure, 

 erected fine light-houses furnished with the latest illuminating devices, 

 but after keeping them lit for two weeks, the lights went out and not a 

 glimmer have they shown since. As navigation is a bit perilous herea- 

 bouts, and mariners need the lights, it is just as well perhaps, that I 

 did not make careful note of the quartermaster's opinion of the unspeak- 

 able Turk, given as he told me the story. 



The days were now long, hot, and a bit monotonous. Shut out 

 as we were on the promenade decks by canvas walls, the peeps that we 

 got at the sea showed a glare of light that was almost unbearable. The 

 only relief was when a sudden drenching shower obscured the sun and we 

 got glimpses of mountainous islands, distant peaks, and still more distant 

 ranges. We were fortunate, however, in seeing the volcanic island Jebel 



