KN ROUTE TO A CEYIX)N TEA ESTATE 23 



Just now this story has a moral, wbicli may .serve 

 ;us an excellent nerve tonic. The rickshaw coolies are 

 not at all likely to stumble and drop you over the 

 precipice, although they might very probably have an 

 accident if they were wheeling you in a bathchair along 

 1 he sea-front at Brighton. 



Fear being banished, we can cat h of us lie hack in 

 our cosy carriage, and enjoy the beautiful mountain 

 scenery and fresh air. All too soon this two hours' 

 journey through tea-gardens comes to an end. But 

 as one pleasure becomes a memory, another pleasant 

 experience falls to our lot. Now we are standing on 

 the threshold of a picturesque bungalow, facing a 

 spacious room, which, at a glance, makes us feel that 

 we have found a most comfortable Enghsh home in the 

 wilds of C«ylon ; and, in the name of Sir Thomas Lipton, 

 we arc being welcomed by the Peria Dooray as guests 

 who are to see anything and everything they wish of 

 the life on Dambatennc Tea Estate. 



CHAFIEH VI 



LIPE ON A CEYLON TEA PLANTATION 



Into your dreams comes the sound of a horn. Do not 

 bestir yourselves ; the morning is yet very young. It is 

 only half-past three, says the clock, and no one takes any 

 notice of the watchman's first t all to shake olT slumber. 

 Half an hour later, a second horn-blast echoes 

 through the hills ; it, too, is born to die away uidu'cded. 

 1 his day in the life of the tea-workers, in which you 

 have come to take part, is not yet at its dawn ; you may 

 sleep on without missing anything you want to see. 



