CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 91 



make themselves by cleverly twisting a figured 

 handkerchief over a paper foundation. 



I don't think I have mentioned the beautiful 

 fire-flies which make the moonless nights a 

 lovely, almost magical sight. They dart high 

 up in the air, and in and out of the dark branches 

 of the trees, giving the effect sometimes of a 

 shower of falling stars, and at other times of a 

 distant torch-light procession. I was consider- 

 ably startled last night on waking to find 

 apparently a little lamp burning on my pillow, 

 and another on the sheet at my side, whilst m 

 different parts of the room were twinkling stars. 

 Of course, as soon as I was fully awake, I knew 

 at once that they were fire-flies, which had taken 

 refuge from the fierce gale blowing outside. 

 One night we found an extraordinary many 

 legged insect climbing up the wall of my son's 

 room. It was covered with hard scales, and 

 was about three and a half inches in length. 

 It carried in its tail two brilliant green lights 

 resembling those of a fire-fly but much larger 

 and more luminous. Before we could catch it, 

 it had crawled away, which was perhaps as well 

 for us, as the coolies, afterwards told us the 

 bite is very painful. 



During this month the estate appears to be 

 much frequented by wild animals. Lately one 

 of the watchmen shot a spotted deer, it was 

 quite young, and about the size of a kid with a 



