24 
WILLIS: CEYLON AS A 
Negombo to see mangrove vegetation, but this vegetation is 
still more easily seen by taking the railway along the south- 
west coast to Bentota (resthouse) or Ambalangoda (resthouse). 
Nipa vegetation and many fine pieces of high forest may be 
seen near Matara, the terminus of the line on the south 
coast (resthouse), and the desert region of Hambantota 
(resthouse) may be reached from here by coach. 
There is another branch garden at Badulla (resthouse), 
reached by rail and coach, on the eastern side of the 
mountains ; the vegetation here is very interesting, and 
excursions may be made into the low-country east of the 
mountains, where the dry zone flora may be seen very well. 
Another branch lies at Anuradhapura, in the north of the 
Island, in the hot dry zone (resthouse), and may be reached 
by rail and coach from Peradeniya. The town itself is 
extremely interesting, being one of the famous “Buried 
Cities of Ceylon.” In the neighbourhood there is interesting 
jungle, and the flora of the great irrigation lakes is also of 
interest. Another coach journey, soon to be replaced by 
railway, to the north, brings the traveller to Elephant Pass 
(resthouse), where the salt marsh flora may be seen to per- 
fection, and beyond this lies the interesting Tamil country 
of Jaffna, richly cultivated. From Jaffna the return may 
be made by steamer, direct to Colombo, or to Trincomalee, 
returning thence to Kandy by coach and rail. 
While the laboratories and other facilities are primarily 
intended for botanical work, there is no intention of exclud- 
ing workers in other branches of science. Zoologists, 
Entomologists, Geologists, and others will be cordially 
welcomed, and places in the laboratories put at their dis- 
posal so long as there is room. Of the eleven working places 
in the principal laboratory at Peradeniya, about five are used 
by the staff of the Department, leaving six available for 
workers from abroad. Intending visitors should communicate 
with the Director some months in advance when possible, 
mentioning the line of work they wish to take up, and 
