584 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. [March 1, 1901. 
Biderable part by mountain tops, amone; others by 
Pidurutalagala, the highest summit in Ceylon (8, 2aO 
feet). 
With its well-laid-out and exoeliently-kept driving 
and walliing roads, big lalie, wide raoeoourae, ad- 
mirably managed hotels and number of villas lying 
up against the mountain slopes, their roofs modelled 
after the European fashion with chimneys piercing 
through the green, the whole aspect reminds one 
of a small watering-place in Europe. Solitary speci- 
mens of the handsome S.ovieved Bliododf.ndimi ai horemn, 
having their origin in the adjacent patanas, in 
many places adorn the sides of the roads, in other 
parts one encounters exteusive thickets, composed 
of the oddest combinations of European, Japanese 
and especially Australian shrubs and trees (especially 
many acacias), whilst in the neighbourhood of the 
dwellings a profusion of European plants (heliotropes 
pelargoniums, pinks, mignonettes, roses &c., &c.,) 
blaze with a glory of flowers. Though neither of 
us very friendly to a stay, such as is usually en- 
joined in our higher Javanese mountain regions, 
both my travelling companion and myself were under 
the influence of the special stimulus of the ensemble 
at Nuwara Eliya, and that although we were not 
there in the good season. As such however are 
said to bo the months of December, January and 
February, when it freezes somewhat in the 
night and is bright sunny weather in the daytime. 
The mean temperature throughout the whole year 
varies between 13-5 and 15 degrees c. 56-3 and 59F.) 
In the good season a number of visitors come 
from near and far to Nuwara Eliya, to spend some 
time there. The growing fame of this plateau must 
to a considerable extent be explained by this, that 
the fact has there been grasped, by the building 
and arrangement of dwellings, clothes, food, com- 
fort &c., of how it is necessary to live, so that one 
indeed experiences the refreshing, exhilarating in- 
fluence of the mountain clitr;ate, with its surround- 
ing country reminding one of beautiful regions in 
Europe, but kno bow to guard oneself against the 
unpleasant and harmful effects of such a climate, 
asserting themselves at other seasons and hours, 
by the mode of living, just as well as ona knows 
how to do at home on bright spring and autumn 
days. 
Although Nuwara Eliya is generally called a 
" sanalarium," it is self-evident, that the climate 
there is not suited to some invalids. Indeed I do not 
think I mistake in saying that the chief value, from 
a hygienic point of view, of a place like Nuwara 
Eliya lies in the preventive favourable influence of 
the climate. It tends to conserve the energy, brisk- 
ness and love of life of Europeans who for the 
greater part of the year must live in warm regions, 
and are only seldom in a position to obtain the 
desired refreshment of body and spirit by a journey 
to Europe. That especially in this last respect a 
stay on a plateau in the tropics, however well it may 
fulfil all requirements, cannot entirely take the place 
of a residence in Europe is self-evident. But, when 
one considers, that in the "season" months at 
Nuwara Eliya some 3,000 visitors come together 
from relatively neighbouring countries and not 
entirely from Ceylon, it is equally evident that 
one can complain very little of the entire absence of 
that peculiar psychic stimulus conta.ined in the 
temporary removal of oneself to an entirely different 
environment, the meeting of various persons from 
entirely different countries and with entirely differ- 
ent aspirations, in short a sojourn in a centre not 
infused with the every-day spirit. 
Though the reputation of Nuwara Eliya is now 
continually extending, it must not be thought that 
the beginning was not difficult. The contrary is the 
case. Naturally the difficulties had to be overcome 
of the site, from the nature of the case, with such 
a high-lying plateau, not easily attainable. Even 
more opposition was found in the common human 
iucliaation that is not dimiaished in intensity by a 
residence in the tropics, in the case of every new 
thing, to look by preference at the dark side, and, 
by wishing for medals without a reverse, to hinder 
the carrying out of every new idea. 
A former energetic governor, Sir William Gregory, 
to whom Ceylon is much indebted, among other 
things, in spite of all real and fictitious difticuUies, 
took vigorously in hand the development of Nuwara 
Eliya. To bim is due the lake, which, by the induc- 
tion of a strea-m, was artificially called into life, 
and which now, perfect as if due to nature alone, 
adds so much to the attractiveness of the landscape; 
Sir William Gregory's predecessor, wlio was pig- 
headed with regard to the attempts to bring 
Nuwara Eliya to the fiont, was, so runs an anec- 
dote, when he heard of the plan of his successor to 
make a lake there, so convinced of its impossibility 
that he declared himself ready in his own august 
person to drink up all the water that should come into 
the projected lake ? And eleven years ago an English 
member of Parliament, who wrote an account of a 
journey round the world,— who.oe style it is true 
seemed generally to incline towards the pessimistic, 
— had not a single word of appreciation or praise 
but only persifinge and ridicule for all that was then 
already completed at Nuwara Eliya. , 
That those who, in the matter of sanataria and 
" air-cure resorts," want by choice " five feet on a 
sheep,'' do not allow criticisms of it to be lacking 
needs no demonstration. 
But, in spite of all opposition and criticism, the 
development of Nuwara Eliya was proceeded with in 
Ceylon, and, after the overcoming of difficulties without 
number, one can now point there with pride to the 
Ceylon " sanatarium." E pur si niuove ! There is 
business-there; and it is daily increasing. Daring 
our stay in the island not only was a proposal of 
the Governor's, to grant a considerable sum to Nuwara 
Eliya, for the carrying out of various improvements, 
unanimously agreed to by the Legislative Council, 
at its sitting of 29th June, but advantage was also 
taken of that opportuuity by several membera to 
set forth in terms mostly highly laudatory the great 
importance and utility of Nuwara Eliya. 
This somewhat long digression on the Ceylon plateau 
that is becoming increasingly more famed, is here, 
inserted purposely, because with us an attempt has 
begun to bring into existence something like wh.it has 
taken place there. I lack the qualification and tlie data 
both to decide if the plans developed for Java offer 
more or less chance of success, and if there are 
present corresponding conditions which should pro- 
mise as good a result as that attained at Nuwara 
Eliya. One conviction, however, I have brought with 
me frorn Ceylon by my own observation and by 
explanation and information obtained, namely that, 
whenever it should appear possible to call into being 
upon a plateau in Java something resembling 
Nuwara Eliya, the execution of such a plan should be a 
blessing to our colony. 
Six miles east of Nuwara Eliya lies the hill garden 
of Hakgala, the largest branch of Peradeniya. As 
such the garden has been conducted since 1882 only ; 
before that (from 1869 onv^ards) the land was occupied 
by a cinchona plantation or experimental garden of 
the Government. 
The position of the garden at Hakgala, at 5,800 
feet elevation, is exceedingly beautiful. The con- 
ditions for the growth of most plants from cool 
climates are there in general favorable. Off and '>;i how- 
ever they have had to suffer there, now from p liods of 
too great drought, then again from phases when 
too much rain falls continuously, and there is too 
little sun. By chance both the one and the other 
were experienced in 1898. A worse disadvantage — 
because it happens regularly — to Hakgala as a place 
suitable for a botanic garden is the constant occur- 
rence of severe winds that cause damage. This 
evil has under the present conditions been reduced 
to a minimum by the extraordinary and continuous 
exertions of the superintendent, Mr. Nock. It ig 
