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RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 
I was awakened early next morning by nxy black Tamil bedroom 
man, who brought coffee and bread and fruit, and informed me that 
“Master’s” bath was ready. As I pulled the mosquito curtains aside, 
and got slowly out of bed, I was startled by a flapping of wings, and 
a very black and impudent crow alighted on the window-sill, his eye on 
the trav of food, and waited impatiently for me to go to the bathroom. 
On the tiled roof opposite were half a hundred more, awaiting the 
AN UPCOUNTRY TEA ESTATE IN CEYLON. 
[Great Western Mountains in the background.] 
results of his investigation, so I took my coffee then and there. On my 
return, not a crumb of food remained, much to the disgust of a couple 
of sparrows who were investigating my belongings with all sorts of 
profane comments. They left, however, when the lizard began to sing, 
and I didn't blame them, for however common and useful the house- 
lizard is in Ceylon, and even if it can catch more flies and mosquitoes 
than anything else, its song is not real music, and if you try to stop it, 
by throwing a boot, the tail drops off, greatly injuring its looks. 
