7H 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [April 2, 1888. 
stream of Capt. Donnan proved fatal to the oysters, 
and you must bear in mind that according to the 
evidence of Mr; Tvvynam, the water of the Aruvi 
has been detected 10 miles up in the Gulf. 
The sudden destruction of the banks in 18G4 was 
preceded by heavy rainfall the previous year : this 
is an undeniable fact. I think if a rt-iVrence 
was possible as to the quantity of rainfall 
during the latter parts of 1886 and lb87 in those 
parts of the island, whence the arus derive their 
waters, it will be patent that the fall has been heavy : 
this I am informed was actually the case, and 
oysters were found rapidly djing in 1887 and 
almost completely swept away in 18S8. 
The question next arises as to the escape of the 
patch now being fished, It will be interesting to 
trace the position and situation of the patch to find 
out, whether the " Gulf stream " with its volume of 
rain water affected it less than the other parts ? 
In 1864 notwithstanding the careful search by the 
authorities and the adventurous attempts of some 
who were supposed to know more of the Gulf, not 
an oyster could have been picked. 
That fresh water and more so rain water is fatal 
to the life of the oyster, every fishery has proved. 
One has only to remember the state of the oysters 
in the Government kottus after a rainy night : 
I have placed pearl oysters in fresh water and have 
found it to prove fatal to the oyster, and had to 
quick decay. 
Finally allow me to make a suggestion ; now that 
the Pearl Fishery has proved a success, would it not 
be the right thing for Captain Donnan to go in 
search of the oysters about the coasts of the Eastern 
Province, where I am told pearl oysters have been 
found in places where they were unknown before ? — 
Yours truly, NEMO. 
[Our correspondent adds in a private letter : — 
"Here is another experience, During one of the 
fisheries I had made up a few bags of oysters 
for some friends in Jaffna; the night happening 
to be very rainy, I ordered the bags to be kept 
in the drain running close to the house, intending 
thereby to have them fresher for shipment the next 
morning ; but what was rny surprise to find them 
mostly dead and putrefying rapidly."] 
THE 'MAZAWATTEE CEYLON TEA COMPANY. 
Deab Sib, — Our attention has been drawn to the 
report of the meeting of the Dimbula planters in 
November last, at which the name of this Com- 
pany was mentioned. From the tenor of the report 
it is very evident that the Ceylon planters have been 
utterly misled as to the character of the business car- 
ried on by this Company. We will thank you, there- 
fore, to allow us to give, through your columns, a few 
particulars as to the nature of our business, so that 
those interested in the tea industry in Ceylon may 
judge as to whether we are working in a manner 
prejudicial, or favourable to their interests. 
About two years ago, believing there was a great 
future for Ceylon tea, we determined to put Ceylon 
blends before the public in a practical and attrac- 
tive form in packets. For our own protection it 
was necessary to register a trade-mark or name ; we 
chose the latter. "Mazawattee" is a corruption of 
the two Eastern words "Mazadar Watte" signify- 
ing Luscious Garden, or growth. At 3s and 2s 6d, 
we decided that we could offer Ceylon tea judi- 
ciously selected and blended of sufficient body and 
quality to create a large and permanent demand. 
Wo also decided to offer at 2s and 2s 2d blends 
of which Ceylon tea would be the predominant 
feature, but containing also a certain proportion of 
Indian tea, it being a well-known faot that the 
Offer medium graces of Ceylon tea, although very 
serviceable for blending, have not sullicient brisk- 
ness and point to make really first-class palatable 
blends without a proportion of pungent Indian tea. 
The fact that these two lower price blends are not 
entirely composed of Ceylon tea has always been pro- 
minently stated on the labels. 
To avoid any chance of misleading the public, the 
medical report has never been affixed to any, but the 
two higher price packets. We have spared no pains 
in introducing these teas throughout the United 
Kingdom, and in endeavouring to develop and 
cultivate a taste for Ceylon tea. We have succeeded 
in this far beyond our expectation, and our success 
has justified beyond doubt the soundness of the lines 
on which we started. It is well-known on the 
London market that the great amount of competition 
in the Ceylon packet tea trade, wnich is greatly 
the result of our successful pioneering, has done 
more to popularize Ceylon tea, and. to keep 
up the high level of average prices, than any other 
factor. There is scarcely a grocer in the Kingdom 
now, but who has his packet Ceylon tea either pure 
or blended and in the majority of cases he is sell- 
ing the public really first class value. 
On seeing the report refered to at the commence- 
ment of this letter, one of our proprietors called 
at the offices of the Ceylon Planters' Association 
and had an interview with Mr. David Beid, and 
offered to allow him or anyone whom he should 
depute to inspect our books and examine our 
employees in order to satisfy him, that from the 
very first packet that was sent out of our ware- 
house, there has never been a leaf of any other 
than Ceylon tea put into the 3/ and 2/6 paokets 
which we have always guaranteed to be absolutely 
pure Ceylon. We also take this opportunity of in- 
viting any Ceylon planter when in London to call 
at our offices and we will afford him every facility 
for satisfying himself as to whether we are and 
have been working in his true interest. — Yours truly, 
THE MAZA.WATTEE CEYLON TEA CO.-; 
"THE QUILLS UPON THE FRETFUL 
PORCUPINE " : 
SOME INTERESTING FACTS AND SPECULATIONS BY A 
PRACTICAL NATURALIST. 
Dear Sir, — So the ' fretful ' porcupine has been 
flinging its quills about again and carrying water 
to irrigate its young with. How is it that the Tamil 
and Sinhalese have different legends on the sub- 
ject ? They have equal opportunities of knowing, but 
they must needs differ, which sureiy throws doubt 
on both legends, and Europeans, who can't think 
and examine for themselves, it seems must go to 
be taught by the " ignorant villager," and of course 
get the legend confirmed. It does not strike them 
that it may be nonsense, but swallow it all at once, 
so hungry are some for what is marvellous, and 
not content with the wonderful and beautiful with 
which nature really abounds- Mr. Haly's letter was 
quite to the point, but it seems that the hungry for 
the marvellous are not satisfied. I wonder why 
the young of porcupines are supposed to require 
water to be carried to them more than the young 
of other creatures, hares, rats, and such like. Milk 
runs snort, I suppose, so the sagacious mother 
mixes them a little sky-blue ! But then there are 
the hollow quills to account for. Well, there is no 
need to rush off to the marvellous for that : they 
are simply the animal's rattle. " Battle, nonsense ! " 
I hear some exclaim, who are not going to have their 
favorite and interesting legend knocked over by a 
rattle; "too absurd." Well, I do not want them to 
believe it, but it is nothing else. I have met with 
porcupines both wild and tame, by night and by 
day, dead and alive, and have satisfied myself 
that nature has given the animal the hollow quills 
they sound more than solid ones) as a means of 
