CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 193 



different parts of the island. The first time I 

 went M up country" to the mountain zone was 

 to stay near Hatton. I was enchanted with the 

 magnificent scenery — Switzerland without the 

 snow. The railway zig-zags slowly up and up, 

 now crossing a roaring torrent, anon gliding 

 along the side of a mountain pass. Now and 

 then, doubling upon itself, in order to achieve 

 the necessary ascent from 1600 feet at Kandy 

 to 4160 feet at Hatton, and 5292 at Nanuoya. 

 The palms are left behind, and in their place 

 acres and acres of tea everywhere meet the eye, 

 whilst on the mountain side giant ferns, a large 

 kind of stag's horn moss, and mauve cistus may 

 be seen. Hatton boasts of an hotel from 

 which excursions can be made to Adam's Peak 

 and is the centre of a large and rich planting 

 district, the very pick of Ceylon for residential 

 purposes. The climate, excepting for the hot 

 sun at noonday, is a cool one, and the mode of 

 life up here in Dikoya, Maskeliya, and Dimbula, 

 is more English than it is any other district where 

 I have been. Many men own their own Estates 

 and in consequence have more available leisure 

 for social functions ; on a club day at Darrawella, 

 the pretty dresses of the ladies, and the smart 

 carriages, added to the bracing breezes, make 

 one imagine oneself at some garden party at 

 home. My friend's drawing room is very 

 English, papered walls, carpeted floors, and 



