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RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 



energetic pony. On the way, we stopped at a Buddhist temple, and, 

 under the guidance of a priest who spoke excellent English, we saw the 

 great image of Buddha, in the forehead of which is set a sapphire as 

 big as a teacup, which glows and sparkles with a most uncanny luster 

 when the room is darkened. 



We also saw the small temple, where, securely sealed forever from 

 human sight, are the sacred books engraved on plates of gold and 

 silver. The doors to this little building, by the way, were walled up 

 some eleven hundred years ago. As a special favor, the priest showed 

 us a footprint of the god in solid rock. To my mind, it didn't do Bud 

 justice, as the pedal extremity was exceedingly flat, and the toes looked 



PLANTAINS, CEYLON. 



as if they might have been whittled out of soft pine by a very poor 

 whittler. The size of the foot, however, was all that could be desired 

 by any believer. 



He also showed us a series of striking pictures, illustrating the 

 various types of torture in the hereafter for those who killed any living 

 thing here on earth, even to the insects that make the fine-toothed comb 

 a necessity. I was surprised to find among them special tortures for 

 those who fish and hunt. 



In the temple enclosure we were at peace, but once outside a half 

 hundred beggars, big and little, crowded about us, following closely 

 down the narrow lane towards our carriage. I was afraid some of 



