CONCLUDING REMARKS. 63 



full bloom, when the hill- side covered over with 

 regular rows of the shrubs, with their millions of their 

 jasmine-like flowers showers down upon . you as you 

 ride up between the plants, a perfume of the most 

 delicately delicious description. 'Tis worth going to 

 the West Indies to see the sight and inhale the 

 perfume/' 



From the " Colombo Observer " of this date we 

 extract the following : 



" The Gona Adika Coffee Estate, property of the 

 late Mr. Tucker, was sold for 30,000, the total extent 

 being nearly 1,000 acres, more than 800 of which 

 were in coffee. The property was bought on account 

 of the mortgage, and it is understood that the purchase 

 price was 9,000 less than the encumbrances on the 

 estate. This is but a type of numerous cases. Prices 

 have been good for years back, but numbers of coffee 

 proprietors got hopelessly involved in the bad times, 

 and latterly, increased expenditure here seems to have 

 kept pace with the rise in prices. Still some persons 

 must profit, or the pursuit would not be persevered in. 

 But the actual working planters who have made 

 fortunes, or even secured a competency, might be 

 counted with but a slight mental effort." 



Of still more value is the testimony of Sir Emerson 

 Tennent, as he had the most ample opportunities of 

 making himself acquainted with all opinions and details 

 in the matter, and he writes as follows : 



" Whatever may be the ascertained advantages of 

 Ceylon in point of soil, temperature and moisture, and 

 however bountiful may be the yield of the plants, the 

 speculation must always be estimated in connection 



