6i8 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 2, 1893. 
green hand, and the tender years of the new 
arrival were no protection for liim ; rather the 
reverse. 
Tlie work in hand was wheeling manure along 
a steep walk, and the others took care tliat Bob's 
barrow was filled to the overflowin;,', but he was 
too proud to give in, and pluckily kept Itis turn. 
Again and again they filled tlie bariow with double 
the quantity that they tiieniselves attempted to 
lift, but 15ob only set his teeth and manfully 
came in uj) to time. At length they so contrived 
to build up the barrow with wet muck, that his 
utmost strength could only wheel it along the 
level. In attempting to take tlie hill, his poor 
little legs tottered lieneath him, and in pure vexa- 
tion of spirit the tears came to Ids eyes. " What 
a shame !" said tlie voice of one behind him ; 
who liad taken in the situation. " Let me take 
that barrow," and as Bob relinquished it, he saw 
that tlie voice came from the kind-hearted Fores- 
ter, and as he walked Itehind the powerfully-built 
man, he made two resolves. Tlie first being, tliat 
if ever lie became an influential man, lie would 
reward that Forester or those belonging to him ; 
and the second was that lie would yet be upsides 
with his persecutors, both of which laudable resolu- 
tions he literally carried into ettect. Thrashing 
the journeyman gardener before he was two years 
older, and in after years when he had become a 
prosperous proprietor in 13umbara, two of the 
Forester's sons were amongst his most capable and 
liberally-paid managers. Meanwhile, young 
Tytler became an adept in " the Art tliat doth 
inend Nature," and as soon as liis three years' 
'prenticeship were completed, he was sent out to 
continue his studies in Jamaica. 
Jamaica. 
He reached Kingston when only 1.5 years of age, 
and for the next three years led a very active and 
highly-interested life, partly on the Blue Moun- 
tains, studying the coffee tree ; partly on the 
plains lea.rning the art of sugar-making. But it 
may here be said, that he never took kindly to 
sugar planting ; his specialty now — and for many 
years after — was Coffee. 
The lively young Scot soon became a special 
favourite in Jamaica, was an active Militia-man, 
and generally took a keen interest in all the 
social aflairs of the little colony, so that it was 
not without much regret that his friends at 
Kingston bade good-bye to hiui at the end of 
three years. 
Ceylon. 
A larger and more promising field, however, now 
lay before R. B. T. Coftee-planting in Ceylon was 
only as yet in the experimental stage : the experi- 
ence he had gained in the only spot Avhere the tree 
could be said to be cultivated, was much required. 
True, a considerable export, amounting to about 
30,00U cwt. per annum was already being shipped 
from Colombo. Albeit, the planters were but grop- 
ing in the ilark, under the shade of massive trees, 
and the lanky long-drawn coffee plants were 
already pining for more light. 
For a few weeks only did our young planter pay 
a visit to his native Aberdeen. ' 'And how did he 
look on his return from Jamaica?" the writer 
asked of the only remaining brother the other day. 
" Look ! (he said) Better than any o's ; but the 
only thing I can distinctly remember is, that he 
gave me hi« watch to hold till lie ran round the 
race-course, two miles in 10 m'uiides'^l In 1837— 
Mr. Tytler being then 18 years of age — landed in 
ColomVx), and was without much delay forwarded 
to Dunibara, in which rich and ber>utiful valley 
he was destined to play so important a jijart. For 
a time his attention was confined to ao^ar, aad it 
was said that this was the only time in Ceylon 
when sugar sliowed a profit ; but it was never 
congenial work, nor w ere the surroundings at thia 
time in Dumbara very wngenuJ to the new 
arrival, and it was not without a conisidmible 
feeling of relief that he ultimately gut «, couiuiis- 
sion to explore the surrounding niouot*iu valleys, 
in order to select the most suitalde land lie could 
find for ooiiee. He had previously given the 
benefit of bin experience to the planters in the 
vicinity of Dumbara, and the N\est Indian 
system of cultivation was universally a<lopte>d, 
perhaps rather too literally, for altliougli the 
oenefit from entii-e absence of shade became 
speedily apparent, it was not a lasting benefit, and 
suitable an<f necessary as its absence may Ije on 
the misty liills, a modified shade is uni^uest'ionably 
beneficial both for coffee and ca<^ ui lou . Lot 
and dry localities. 
Pioneer. 
It was as a pioneer <»n the mountain stone that 
K. B. T. fii-st really distinguislied himself. To him 
is due tiie merit of selecting the famous Kelebokke 
Valley, and some of the finest properties in Matale 
East, in both of which districts he did admirable 
work, not merely »« a selector )>ut as a practical 
planter, contending with dttticulties auen as the 
present race of planters could scarcly conceive 
possible. 
Writes. 
^Vhile working here as a ]>ioneer planter, Mr. 
Tytler l>egan to make his jireisence felt in the island 
giMierally. Not only was his work executed in a 
manner to call forth the admiration of those who 
saw it; but in his spare moments he dropped letters 
to the Observer, which for ter»*enesK of language, 
commonsense and fearless hard hitting, Cmoulx) 
had not before l>een accustomed to receive " from 
the hills." 
At first Colombo merchants were not disposed 
to put up with this youngster's a^lvice on coffee 
curing and copper-bottomed clippers, and more 
than once a dignified attempt was made to silence 
the obnoxious scribbler, the only result being a 
retort more '• outrageously " plainspoken than be- 
fore. To those who only know the modest Colombo 
Agent of today there is no use trying to pict^ire 
the effect of such exasperating conduct uijon the 
mercantile grandee of the 40's antl 50's. Occasion- 
ally it seemed to bode badly for the prospects of 
R. B. T. ; but by-and-bye even Colombo mercliants 
came to appreciate his worth, and work much 
moie tiian he could undertake came to him 
unsought. 
Becomes a V. A. 
For some time he took up his residence in Kandy 
acting as agent and adviser for a number of 
absent proprietors, and always with the most 
satisfactory results to those directly interested. 
Pallakellie. 
To become a resident proprietor in his beloved 
Dumbara was, howe\"er, the aim of his life and 
acme of his ambition as a planter, and this he 
ultimately accomplished by aciiairing the aban- 
doned estate of Pallakellie, also holding shares in 
the adjoining properties of Rajawella, Ambecotte 
and Gangawatte. 
On Pallakellie he built and formed his unique 
demesne, Viiiicli for many years has been the 
admiration of all visitors. 'Twas here he became 
best known to Ceylon during the middle and latter 
years of his planting life; here he received distin- 
guished travs^ters interested in tropical agriculture 
