62 



RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 



while the blacks huddled together at the stern. I had barely embarked, 

 when down came one of Mr. Wither's coolies with two steamer chairs, 

 one of which he had thoughtfully brought for me. After a most ear- 

 splitting whistle, the little steamer cast off and started down the deep, 

 muddy stream. Shortly after leaving the pier, we passed the Clyde 

 estate, which shows a large planting of tea and Para rubber, the trees 

 young, straight, and tall. The run down the river was a pleasant one, 



HEVEA TREES AT SUNNYCROFT. 



but in no way exciting, and early in the forenoon I took a train from 

 Kalutara and was again back in Colombo. As I planned to leave for 

 the Kelani Valley that afternoon, I went to the Grand Oriental Hotel 

 for breakfast and a? siesta, from which I was awakened by a pleasant 

 young reporter, who interviewed me most thoroughly. I want to say 

 in passing that all through the East the newspaper men seemed alive 

 to the importance of the rubber question, and printed many columns of 



