514 
THE TROPICAL AGEICULTURIST. [Feb. 1, 1900. 
not get enough to eat, and Lad any one told rae 
them that 24 years hence I would see some 70 
intelligent-looking gentlemen sit dowu to dinner in 
this spot I would have simply said, " "You're a fool I " 
In reply to the tremendous enthusiasm with which 
his health was drunk, Sir James delivered a most 
eloquent speech, in which he pictured a brigbt future 
for Ceylon, he repeated his views on the Galle Harbour 
question and urged that the cosmopolitan spirit be 
carried out. "Why," he says, " we are not a colony 
of paupers, let ns pay our way as gentlemen and 
demand that we be treated as such." As to the 
Coffee Enterprise, he was delighted to see it was 
now in so good hands ; he admired the energy, the 
prudence, the honourable feeling which prevailed, 
exhorted all present to continue in the same well- 
directed course — when the result could be no other 
than honour and independence. As for himeelf, he 
said, he was now becoming an old fellow, in all 
human probabi'ity within a few years of the end; 
he could not hope to revisit Ceylon again, but so 
long as he did live he would retain a lively interest 
in the country and those whom he had met here. 
Mr. MoLeod made a long and excellent speech, 
giving his experience during the last 20 years, which 
was highly applauded, while Mr. Smith quite ex- 
celled himself in his oration in praise of our worthy, 
joint Host, for whom he entertained the highest 
possible respect as a planter, as a gentleman and 
above all as a great hunter. 
Mr. Morrison, in a neat speech, remarked that it 
must be very gratifying to Sir Jimes to find his 
son here in the splendid position he had raised him- 
self to in so very short a time. No man ever more 
deserved to succeed — he had shown us all an e.x- 
Bmple in energy and judicious estate management. 
Not only figuratively but practically he had put his 
shoulder to the wheel and had achieved a success 
which had seldom been equalled in Ceylon in so 
short a time ; he looked upon him as a great ac- 
quisition and honour to Kotmalie. 
Mr. Elphinstone's reply was a very humourous 
one, he said "Although I can yarn to any extent 
in private I am an exceedingly bad hand at a 
public speech. I cannot but thank you, however, 
for the very enthusiastic manner in which you have 
drnnk my health, although Mr. Morrison has said 
far too much in my praise (cries of No, no) and 
made too much of the little success I have at- 
tained in Ceylon, the largest share of which ought 
to be awarded to those who have so well assisted 
me in all my undertakings. I have indeed been 
exceedingly fortunate in my friends. Ever since I 
set my foot in this country I have met with nothing 
but kindness. I am delighted and proud to see so 
many of you here to-night, and as I have just been 
remarking to my friend on the left I do not re- 
member in the course of my life ever having seen 
so many intelligent looking faces at one table and 
I feel proud to think, gentlemen, as I look around 
that you are not merely acquaintances but friends. 
I feel that I entertain the sincerest friendship for 
you all individually (cheers.) Mr. Morrison has made 
allusion to my putting my shoulder to the wheel. 
I am constantly hearing of this in the newspapers 
and elsewhere. Well, I did put my shoulder to the 
wheel, and I'll say this much, I'll back myself 
against any planter in Ceylon to drive a bullock 
cart, (cheers I) 
The Ball. 
Shortly after 12 o'clock, on receiving a hint from 
the Chair, the company rose from the table and in 
five minutes the whole debris was cleared away. Mr. 
McLeod " blew up his chanter "and playpd a High- 
land reel with great spirit and taste. Sir James opened 
the Ball by dancing a reel in which he showed such 
agility as would be creditable to one half his years 
and led us to hope we would yet see him back in Ceylon 
after many years hence. Some half dozen excellent 
amateur violinists now screwed up their strings and 
struck up " The Reel o' Tulloch. The company became 
electrified and the result was _something to be remem- 
bered. Seventy stalwartmen rose en masse and danced 
with such tremendous vigour that not only did 
"Hoof and rafters dirl" 
but Mr McLood cast many a wistful look at his beams, 
pricked up his ears, and seemed to think the company 
"Had nae other thocht than how to kill" 
themselves in the shortesO possible time. Gradually 
matters subsided a little. Still the only difference 
seemed to be that the company had resolved to kill 
themselves more orderly. Heel followed reel for three 
hours, varied only by a country dance and a half- 
hearted polka, some excellent singing then took place 
in which Messrs. Elphistone, Allan and Martia 
particularly distinguished themselves. Mr. Martin's 
" Spinning Wheel " was capitally rendered and brought 
down thundering applause. At half past three the 
company adjourned to supper which was done ample 
justice to, and followed up by some beautiful senti- 
mental ! songs by Messrs. Grant, Smith and others. 
The "Bonnie Woods o' Craigie Lea" was a great 
success. But all were impatient to return to the 
dance and dance they did with unabated vigour till 
—tell it not in Gath— r/ra;/ daylicht. The band 
which discoursed such excellent music was conducted 
by Mr. Grant who was occasionally very ably assisted 
by Messrs. Smith and Martin. The whole passed 
off most harmoniously, every body seemed delighted 
with himself and everybody else, and all seemed to 
agree that such merry making, when prudently con- 
ducted as this had been throughout, was more con- 
ducive to unanimity and good fellowship in a district 
than all the meetings ever held in connection with 
the P. A. We had almost omitted to notice the 
splendid fireworks, which seemed to be a source of 
much amusement and wonder to the natves. These 
went on, or rather went off, at intervals during the 
night, but the grand display was reserved for morning's 
just before dawn. 
Oar first recollection of " Logie " was iq 1869 
when travelling round tlie planting districts, 
collecting, for the first time, planted acreage of 
estate.?. We were visiting the late Mr. Johu 
Forbes MacLecd on Kadienlena estate and meet- 
ing all the men in the district ; we were made 
specially welcome on Baharundrali where we had 
evidence of the untiring industry and spirited en- 
terprise of the young Manager. Mr. Elphinstone 
was tlicn the beau-ideal of a handsome young Scot : 
he had had a business training in the Oriental 
Bank before coming to Ceylon ; but it ■was 
agricultural experience at home and fondness for 
work that stood him in good stead. To be 
able to check the native cartmen — usually con- 
sidered at the time to be great rop-ues in over- 
charging and also in stealing or mixing coffee 
en route to Colombo— Logie made a whole trip 
himself as bullock-cart driver from Kotmale to 
Colombo via the Kelani Valley, living very much 
as the cartmen did, roughing it right through, 
and so got to know more than any other man in the 
island about the real cost and risks of cart trar:sporfc. 
A riding party was quickly formed during our visit, 
by Logie and MacLeod to visit "Dimbula Felix," 
Wm. Smith and Craigie Lea and " the Colonel" (Mr. 
Hood) on Talawakele. Logie estate was then consi- 
dered the ultima thule of the district, there being no 
cart road beyond Mount Vernon ; unbroken forest 
between Forest Creek and Dikoya, and Louie* 
