8 
RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 
there is a constant crumbling of the sandy banks so that a force of steam 
dredgers is employed keeping the channel clear, nor is this work allowed 
to flag for an hour. 
The next morning we were still hemmed in by sandy banks, and the 
scenery was not inspiring, being varied only by small stations about 
which clustered a few lebec trees, the big dredges and an occasional 
native boat with its huge yards and dingy sail. Passing both the old 
and the modem cities of Suez, we left the canal and were in the gulf 
of Suez. Here the water was of a marvelous blue, the sun brilliant, and 
the far off, lofty sand dunes, scored and seamed by winds and rain, 
showed wonderful effects in yellow, brown, violet and purple. Here 
we began to get the warm weather. With Asia on our left, Africa on 
our right, and both in sight, a smooth sea and blazing sun, white flannel 
and duck suits soon appeared ; the punkahs were started in the dining 
saloon, and the whole of the deck shaded by both top and side awnings. 
Wind scoops were also placed in the open ports, and we felt at last that 
we were in the tropics. 
The next point of interest to be noted was the Daedelus shoal, from 
which our Captain Broun once rescued one hundred and eighty souls, 
who, escaping from the wreck of their vessel, were gathered in a shiver- 
ing crowd, waist deep in water. 
We had a further evidence of the genuineness of the hot weather 
the next morning at three o'clock, when the order came to close the 
ports as the water was slopping into the cabins. How most of them 
stood it I don’t know, but I took a blanket and went on deck, and even 
then it was stifling. At daybreak we passed the “twelve apostles,” a 
dozen big rocks rising abruptly from the sea, a grim weather beaten 
row. It was near here that the Turkish government, after much pressure, 
erected fine light-houses furnished with the latest illuminating devices, 
but after keeping them lit for two weeks, the lights went out and not a 
glimmer have they shown since. As navigation is a bit perilous herea- 
bouts, and mariners need the lights, it is just as well perhaps, that I 
did not make careful note of the quartermaster s opinion of the unspeak- 
able Turk, given as he told me the story. 
The days were now long, hot, and a bit monotonous. Shut out 
as we were on the promenade decks by canvas walls, the peeps that we 
got at the sea showed a glare of light that was almost unbearable. The 
only relief was when a sudden drenching shower obscured the sun and we 
got glimpses of mountainous islands, distant peaks, and still more distant 
ranges. We were fortunate, however, in seeing the volcanic island Jebel 
