730 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[May 1, 1900, 
James Sangster Martin, for whom I acted fourteen 
years before, now undertook a portion of tlie work 
j left. James was the elder brother of tlie equally 
well-known John, perhaps the more intellectual of 
the two ; but both were first-rate planters, indeed 
none better ever came to Oeylon. 
1 had scarcely reached Aberdeen when I got a 
wire that J. S. M. had died of dysentery. It was in 
the end of May (1874), the trees were bursting into 
leaf. I had not seen a summer for sixteen year;^, 
and not feeling disposed to re='Uine my duties at 
once, I gave up all idea of returning to my post ! 
Now for the next ten years I extracted as much 
enjoyment out of life as perhaps ever falls to the 
lot of ordinary unambitious mortals ; but at the 
end of this time I fell amongst thieves, and as mis- 
fortunes rarely come single, the iJe/JisYeia must needs 
play havoc with securities in Ceylon at the same 
time, so that I began to look abroad again for 
investments and occupation, resulting in a trip to 
Tasmctnia, an adventure often talked of with 
friends now gone, R. B. T., J. S. M. and others. 
PROSPECTING IN TASMANIA. 
Of my experiences there have I not written fully 
to the Oftservcr under the heading " In search of 
a Home." My prospecting during these three years 
cost me over £2,000, money not by any means 
wasted, as I gained in return a more thorough 
knowledge of this beautiful, if in many respects 
over-rated and sadly misguided island than many 
of the natives possess, and learned to appreciate 
better our own bountiful native land on which 
there is yet ample room. 
Calling in passing and repassing upon my 
first love, Ceylon, 1 found her more interesting 
and beautiful than ever. 
"HOW I FOUND MY WATTIE." 
The old Wattie on which I lived and reared a 
family, though now uncultivated, was not 
abandoned, hundreds of tree and flowers — escapes 
from the Botanical Gardens — grew there where 
they never grew before ; the fruit trees I 
planted thirty years ago, jak, mango, coconut and 
lime, now waxing old and bearing heavilv. The 
sensitive plant, with its clover-like bfossoms, 
covered the walk like a carpet, a walk made just 
eighty years ago to enable Lady Barnes to enjoy 
the view. The sweet little yellow Ihuiib^rgia 
peeped with its dark eye from amongst the weeds 
by the wayside, while its rich muuve-flowering 
relative, the noljle Luarafolia, hung in festoons 
from the arms of the gaunt cotton tree. 
The flowers on tlie huge Sapu trees scent the 
air, while the indigenous Guava — from which the 
district derives its name — Pcr«(deniya)— was in 
many places an impenetrable thicket, Lantana 
only— once so luxuriant— now decaying, and being 
5upplante<l by a sunflower, also from S. Ameiica. 
The Bomjainoillea with its rose-coloured bracts, 
bides the ■ rumbling ruins of the godowrs, while 
the Inga Saman trees which, on the recommenda- 
tion of Dr. Thwaites in 1870, I transplanted from 
the garden now throw a. grateful shade over 
the old bungalow, looking so inviting and with its 
sunny memories doubly interesting. The view 
from the verandah greener and richer than of yore; 
the old sugar estate — an abandoned common in 
the sixties — now a splendid sheet of luxuriant and 
valuable tea. Why should Primrose Hill not be 
again utilized ? Why should the lost wattie not 
be regained ? The di^sire was natural and in 
process of time was gratified. Yet one cannot live 
upon a wealth of wild flowers or on tne distant 
view however lovely : — 
" Soch wealth is but a name 
That leaves our useful products still the same." 
The next step was tor-plant the totum, which 
I did very successfully ; and while the tea, &c., was 
growing, I made sundry excursions into other parts 
of the world, the most notable being Peru* and 
Australia as elsewhere described : but my home in 
Ceylon — preserved as a winter resort — is still ray 
favourite staud-by. 
* See "In Tropical Lands: Recent Travels to the Sources of the Amazon, the West Indian Islands, 
and Ceylon "—by A, Sinclair, f. ecu,, etc. — "Ceylon Observer" Book Store, Colombo. 
View of Mihayillaganga from Primrosa Hill Bungalow. 
