No. 12.— 1860-].] ON HEALTH AND DIET. 



435 



each other in the Galle Face Burying Ground, which are said 

 to be the melancholy record of the effects of the march of a 

 single Regiment from Kancly to Colombo. The loss of human 

 life in the construction of that road, is said to have been 

 something fearful, and that, not only amongst the native 

 labourers, but also amongst the European officers under 

 whom they worked. Even within the last twenty years 

 it was commonly stated that the Resthouse-keeper at 

 Ambepussa was obliged to keep up a double set of servants, 

 as one-half were always sure to be laid up with fever. That 

 "oad does not now bear so bad a character ; and the town of 

 Kandy itself is also believed to have improved very much in 

 salubrity, since it came inti the possession of the English. 



Much of this improvement is no doubt attributable to 

 alterations which have taken place in the physical features 

 of the country. Forests have been felled, swamps drained, 

 and the observance of some sanitary regulations enforced 

 upon the native inhabitants. 



Something, too, perhaps not a little, is due to improved 

 habits of life on the part of the European residents. The 

 few who have been long enough in the Island to remember 

 the state of things which has now, thank God, passed away, 

 and is in great measure forgotten, have strange tales to tell 

 of the excesses which were then committed by men filling 

 positions, the present occupants of which, if their own better 

 principles did not (as they doubtless would) prevent them 

 from imitating the bad example of their predecessors, would 

 be driven from office and from society by the force of public 

 opinion. 



The day is gone by when the Officers on the Staff of the 

 Governor and Commander-in-Chief — appointments which 

 in those days were always combined — would think it con- 

 sistent with their position to endeavour, when invited, in 

 attendance upon the Governor, to dine with an ecclesiastical 

 dignitary to entrap their host into drinking to excess ; or 



