256 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



Peradenia, September 24. 

 I have just arrived here, and am in Mr. Thwaites' comfort- 

 able house, but have nearly forgotten the thread of my story 

 in seeing him, and feeling that the mail will close in half an 

 hour. From Matelie to this place the country is utterly dif- 

 ferent and most beautiful — a perfect paradise of wooded hills, 

 open valleys with rich vegetation, and glorious forms of tropical 

 plants. The road for part of the way led through coffee planta- 

 tions, now laden with ripe berries — not handsome at this season. 

 Here and there were wild spots — the ground covered with 

 ferns — Aspl. nidus sitting on old trees, and great store of flowers, 

 &c, &c. One old tree was quite covered with an epiphyte 

 orchis. There was Indian shot, and several others of the same 

 family — balsams, small passion-flowers, and lots of other 

 creepers — a red " blackberry," which I ate, and found insipid. 

 Palms again abundant — the cocoa, Areca, Caryota, &c, &c. I 

 was lost among the new and strange forms. I shall write a 

 description of Peradenia when I know it better. At present 

 I am only conscious of having driven through an avenue of 

 tropical plants, and seen other avenues spreading on all sides 

 through fields, and parks, and lawns, with a border of hills like 

 the happy valley of Rasselas. 



September 28. 



I have been received by Mr. Thwaites with the most brotherly 

 kindness. Were I at Plassey I could not find myself more at 

 home. 



Now for Peradenia. — A botanic garden under the line is very 

 unlike Glasnevin, for there are no hothouses, and what is more 

 wanted is a cooZ-house. The grounds cover 140 acres, surrounded 

 on three sides by the river ; and beyond the river are wooded 

 hills rising one behind the other, and indeed the distant ones may 

 be called mountains. There are valleys and vistas between the 

 hills, and lovely peeps up and down them. There is a satin- 

 wood bridge of one light openwork arch thrown across the river 

 near the entrance to the garden, the grounds of which are 

 diversified like those of Glasnevin on a large scale. Mr. 

 Thwaites's house is built on one of the small hills, " in the 

 midst of the garden" — a pretty little verandah cottage, with 

 flowers and climbers in front. At the entrance of the garden 



