70 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



there, fever has been much more prevalent. I 

 know of one case where this happened, after- 

 wards a new Manager restored the gardens, 

 and fever declined in proportionate ratio. The 

 fruits we have here in greatest abundance are 

 limes, almonds, pine-apples, mangoes and 

 pawpaws. The last most valuable as a digest- 

 ive, on account of the quantity of vegetable 

 pepsine it contains. Much has lately been 

 written on this subject, and it is not unlikely 

 that before long, the pepsine extracted from 

 pawpaws, which are plentiful, may become one 

 of the minor exports of Ceylon. 



When I returned to the bungalow, one of 

 the servants met me with the extraordinary 

 statement that "the pigeons wanted buttons." 

 The mystery was soon solved by his appearing 

 with an armful of pyjamas. This boy's 

 English is of the drollest. Another day he 

 came and stood behind me, as they always do, 

 waiting for you first to address them, if you 

 take no notice they give a gentle cough to call 

 your attention. On my enquiring what he 

 wanted, he said, 'Please, lady, I want a steam.' 

 This was a puzzle. At last after many in- 

 effectual attempts to understand, he brought me 

 a letter, and showed me the stamp as being 

 what he wanted. 



March 22nd. — Yesterday I made a desperate 

 attempt to get a view of the river. The 



