i8 



RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 



I was awakened early next morning by my black Tamil bedroom 

 man, who brought coffee and bread and fruit, and informed me that 

 ''Master's' 7 bath was ready. As I pulled the mosquito curtains aside, 

 and got slo\vly out of bed, I was startled by a flapping of wings, and 

 a very black and impudent crow alighted on the window-sill, his eye on 

 the tray of food, and waited impatiently for me to go to the bathroom. 

 On the tiled roof opposite were half a hundred more, awaiting the 



AN UPCOUNTRY TEA ESTATE IN CEYLON. 



[Great Western Mountains in the background.] 



results of his investigation, so I took my coffee then and there. On my 

 return, not a crumb of food remained, much to the disgust of a couple 

 of sparrows who were investigating my belongings with all sorts of 

 profane comments. They left, however, when the lizard began to sing, 

 and I didn't blame them, for however common and useful the house- 

 lizard is in Ceylon, and even if it can catch more flies and mosquitoes 

 than anything- else, its song is not real music, and if you try to stop it, 

 by throwing a boot, the tail drops off, greatly injuring its looks. 



