October I, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
257 
IN THE KALUPAHANA VALLEY, 
LAGGALA, CEYLON. 
(Concluded from par/e 
Enclosed on three sidos by a splendid wall of 
mountain ranges, the Kalupahaua valley certainly 
presents ono oi' the finest expanses of forest-land now 
to Lie seen in the country. Whatever may be the draw- 
backs — and distance from road communication and 
wind in the south-west monsoon must be placed first, 
Wfl suppose, — there can be no question of the at- 
tractive outlook to a visitor. And when tho road 
G as noarer, and virgin forest-land becomes no 
longer available even in the Kelani Valley, we 
havo no doubt that a good many plantations can 
and will bo carved out of the 12,000 acres available 
at a fine medium elevation in Kalupahana. 
The first man to survey and indeed take up land 
in tho Kalupahana valley was the late Mr. Vetch 
of tho Survey Department, a cousin of Robert 
Vetch Dunlop of the 0. 13. C. Mr. Vetch served 
out hero for some thirteen years, retiring through 
ill-health in 1870 at the comparatively early age 
of -12, on a pension of £220. He did some good 
work in out-of-the-way parts of the Central 
Province in his day, though he never had the 
exposuro and risks of poor old Noad who for weeks 
together in the jungle had to live on the fare 
of his Sinhalese coolies, swollen rivers in the days 
when district bridgos and roads were compara- 
tively unknown, intercepting supplies. Mr. Vetch 
sold his Laggala block of land (639 acres) — which he 
called Dawick, and of which not more than 50 acres 
ever was cultivated— to Mr. G. W. Carlyon, and 
he again parted with it to Mr. Borron, 
who though pioneering quietly for a number 
of years, lias not extended cultivation beyond 
200 acres. There are two or three other 
blocks owned on tho margin of tho valley which 
have never yet had an axe in them* ; but I have 
no doubt that the success of tea in the Laggala 
division will encourage ontepriso farther on. More 
particularly the great success of tea on Brae and Laura- 
galla estates must attract attention, for it is quiet 
'•villi nt t Hut the now giant is much better suited for 
Windy districts than ever coffee was, and there can be 
in getting over the fine crops of leaf now gathered 
on Mr. Hugh Eraser's Brae properties or the 
aplendid covor of vegetation there. Under tho 
shadow of Malta Tunisgala (ono of throo " Tunis- 
n|a t" all of them striking-looking mountains, 
rising from spurs of the Knuckles range on both 
sides) we .see no reason why even finer tea should 
not bo cultivated. Tho decaying gneiss rocks which 
hang over the forest-clad valley givo evory promise 
of adding perennial fertility to the slopos and 
flats running to the riversides below and the 
smiling rice-iiolds and prosperous hill villa- 
ges show that population is close at hand, 
not only to fell and clear the land, but also to 
do much in cultivating and plucking the leaf. A 
gathering o! Sinhalese who catno for their periodical 
redemption of the durai's brass fanam tokens, 
at Manogala, showed that big stalwart men were 
ready to work for tho planter. They havo not yet 
Rot tho length of allowing their women and chil- 
dren go to tho tea clearings or fields to weed or 
pluck loaf, but that will follow as tho demand for 
help incroasoa. No ono who admires natural scen- 
<' r > n I tee] lonely oven in romote Kalupahana, 
while tho historical associations of tho neighbour- 
hood as wo have already shown by tho quotation 
(rout Korbcs aro full of interest. Tho Laggala 
* Among tin' Kalnp ih. '.n:i proprietors may In- inon- 
Uonod Sit Dunsford (Delafonl) ; Mr. EL \. Clarke; 
KM BIc (i. D. II. Blphinstone (BridporO, 
t He&Oe the name. 
M 
headmen and villagers had generally to take 
charge of State prisoners and 60 members of 
the highest families in disgrace, settled down 
amongst them. In the Hattanwella village, 
ltobert Knox spent some part of his captivity, 
and the people still retain the tradition of the 
" white man" who lived, and was esteemed for hi3 
goodness, amongst their ancestors. To the top of 
Malta Tunisgala, whioh rises like a giant sentinel 
over the remotest corner of the Kalupahana valley 
to a height of perhaps 5,500 feet, the late Dr. 
Thwaites, r. it. s., and Mr. A. Oswald Brodie forced 
their way, being richly rewarded botanically, wo 
believe, by a trip over country never before trod- 
den by the Botanist even if by any white man at all. 
The late James Gunn did a great deal of travelling 
and surveying in connection with the Temple Lands 
survey, below Laggala, but that was after 
the time of Agent Brodie. Our exploration of 
Kalupahana was confined to the lower portion, and 
most curious it was to note the series of rocky 
terraces which even there, immediately above the 
riverside flat, became the distinguishing feature 
of the land. This would indicate a series of 
" Gallahas " or " Oodoowellas " all the way up 
through the 12,000 to 15,000 acres, and of the 
fertility of soil so formed there can be no doubt. 
My companion had made the trip — a day's journey 
on foot — from Kalupahana round the outside base 
of the mountains through ,the village of Palu- 
garua (where empty bottles were an acceptable 
santosum I) to the Nitre Cave district at Tariffa. 
If this country were opened up properly, there can be 
doubt of the benefit to the natives. For sport, 
no other planting district perhaps affords better 
opportunities than Laggala, in deer, wild pig, hares, 
jungle-fowl, &c, &c. 
Our ride back was saddened as we passed 
through the abandoned coffee fields of the Tel- 
gama's and recalled our first viBit in 1861 across 
the Hoolankande Gap with W. D. Gibbon and 
Charlie Catto to visit their then young clearings 
on which so many hopes were built. If tea had 
been planted, we have no doubt the result would 
have been different ; for directly opposite and above 
wo gaze on the splendid tea fields of Lauragalla 
and Brae. The great part of the bridlepath up 
through Brae has been cut on a cart road trace 
and provision for a road to connect with tho Cabra- 
galla Gap ought certainly to be included in the 
next Supply Bill. The evening sun was fast 
declining as we rode up through tho forest to the 
top of the Gap, and as we turned round to bid 
faivwcll to Laggala and its many river-fed valleys 
running down to the wilderness of lowcountry 
jungle, we could mark Lake Minneriya once more 
glistening in the refleoted sunlight— a charming pic- 
ture to carry away as a last memento of a pleasant 
holiday ; whtlo on tho Pass itsolf 
Summer winds, about us blowing, 
Made a murmur in the land. 
THE AMERICAN TEA MARKET. 
(BY THE " l'EHIPATETIC PLANTER.") 
Tho report and covering-circulars alluded to id my last, 
were not got olf by last mail after all, but it is hoped 
that they may be in time for this. 
As bearing upon tho ground taken up all along in 
these articles, on the two points, that Oaunda'» condi- 
tion!) are favourable to the acceptance of Indiau teas an 
now made, unlike the ease of the I'nited States ; and 
secondly, that n planter of good business oapaoftj 
should be ii director of the crn.-ade.it is interesting to 
learn, that Mr. 1 layter, formerly of the Shunishcrmig- 
j;er estate in S\lhct, having been commissioned by a 
small syndicate of well-known Indian firms to procei .1 to 
Canada to see what he could do for Indian teas over 
there, i *' meeting with unexpofteilly rapi.l >*u» 
