628 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March 1, 1902. 
there. It was 25 miles by the mile- 
posts including- ow mile through Fassara 
and 2^ miles to Dammeriaon our return. The 
conclusion will be on Monaragala and its many 
unbridged rivers between Passara and the 
" Peacock Rock"— or the hill so little known 
by even old planters, situated on the out- 
skirts of thp Uva Province and only a day's 
journey across country to Hambantota, 
called Monaragala, 
MONARAGALA. 
Let us review 
THE JOUENEY 
to this outlandish planting "district." We start 
from Dammeria estate and' walk to the old mili- 
tary station called Aliput, from tiience to Biidu- 
gama and pull up at a resthouse at Nakali. Here 
we change our wet clothes and refresh the inner 
man, and rest our weary bones. But what rivers 
to cross, up to the waist— the Nakali River in 
particular ! The rains had commenced and the 
rivers were only just tordable. Arriving at Mupane 
bazaar we discharged the Sinhalese man engaged 
at Nakali resthouse and obtained a cnoly to carry 
box and guide to Normandy estate. Of course, he 
took the wrong road, giving a walk of three miles 
extra, because we were very tired and axious to 
get on dry clothing. We therefore, ascended 
Monarakefe estate, 447 acres with 247 acres under 
cacao, managed by Mr. Stephen Sparkes. A long 
pull and a strong pull brought us to the ridge, 
and we were glad to enter Normandy estate, 231 
acres in extent with 120 acres of cacao, also under 
the management of Mr. Stephen Sparkes. A 
change of clothing and a hot cup of tea soon made 
us forget all the troubles of the day, and, save 
that a very cold North-East wind was blowing we 
felt comparatively comfortable, located in a basin 
on one of the ranges surrounded by great big 
boulders— enough of them to build another break 
water. We hAd often been informed there were 
a few small pebbles to be found at Monatagala. 
Christmas came and went and with Mr. L. who 
was invited over by my liospitable host, we passed 
a pleasant time and visited Sirigalla next day. 
This estate, the property of Mr. H Atkinson, 
possesses 181 acres of cacao, and tliere is another 
place just by, called Tring ot L51 acres out of 
cultivation. There is some very fine 
CACAO 
to be seen both on Normandy and Sirigalla 
estates — in fact the largest trees I have ever seen 
whether in Ceylon or in Triniilad or Grenada in 
the West Indies. One large tree had over fifty 
pods on one branch and it is common at Monara- 
gala — that is on Normandy and Sii igalla— to count 
1,50 on one tree- Caracas is the name given to the 
red pod trees which I thought we called Trinidad, 
and Forastero (hybrid mixed) is the name given to 
what I thought was Caracas : both kinds bear 
heavily and very fine large pods. The cacao is 
shaded by rubber trees, dadap, kola-nut, nutmegs, 
annato jak and albizzia molnccana which by-the- 
bye grows at Monaragala to an enormous size — 
even to sixteen feet in circumference. The dadap 
had been bark-ringed in .some places and came 
down Hinash witii very little notice in one instance. 
A tremendous l)ig oii'- measured its lengtii on the 
ground parallel with us as we walked along 
the path at Sirigalla and made us jump with th 
sudden shock. The strong N-E, monsoon blowing 
laid low many trees; in fact, it was quite dangerous 
to walk underneath them. 
We could see a " dagoba," on the rock to the 
left of Sirigalla and steps cut in the rock leading 
up to the " dagoba." We are informed that there 
is a Buddhist college and a temple where the 
priest keeps school, but there are not many 
students. 
Monaragala possesses some ten properties coni- 
prisint' about 2,103 acres distributed as follows : — 
1,527 acres under Cacao. 
297 do do Tea. 
99 do do Coffee. 
20 do do Cardamoms. 
1,943 
57 Nutmegs, Kola-nut and Annatto, 
2,000 
103 Para and Ceara Rubber, «S:c. 
2,103 With shade trees of all kinds. 
Alliawatte with 2.30 acres of Cacao 
Moonerakelle do 247 do do. 
Normandy do 120 do do. 
597 
(Managed by Steidien-Sparkes.) ai-res. 
Then come Kumhukkan ... 125 
Kumaradola Cacao ... ... 258 
Moragalla do .. ... 181 
565 
(Managed by Mr. Be'ts) 
Kaxawa also managed by Mr. Betts 80 
645 
Some alterations have been made since I visited 
Monaragala — particulars of wh'ch perhaps liave 
been sent to you. Su-igalla is in charge of Mr. 
Liesching. Walton is managed by Mr- Austin who 
looks after the factory at Mupane. Before leav- 
ing Monaragalla we must pay tiibule to tlie 
memory of Eastwood and John Reid who were 
numbered amongst the pioneers. Leaving Monara- 
gala and Passara nin Khjber Pass — Courakelle — 
back of Naniunukula via Ravens- wood, Newburnh, 
Ella to Bandarawela Hotel for a rest and evening 
t rain to Naiuioya where we spent the night. New 
Year's Day was agreeably spent in the company 
of Messrs. George Thomson Vicare? so and Bisset. 
We wish all pro.-^perity to our frien(!s in the Pro 
vince of Uva antl thank them again for their 
hospitality. 
H. COTTAM. 
Over-Production and Cardamom Culti- 
vation. — We are asked in a letter from a 
Northern planting district to put in a strong 
word of warning about the danger of over- 
production of cardamoms from the too 
rapid extension of clearings of this spice. 
— Wherever you tirrn, new clearings are 
seen to be in progress — not in one district ; 
but wherever there are trees to fell." 
We sincerely trust that planters will b« 
taught caution by past experience in cio- 
hona and now in tea. 
