A LOW-COQNTEY TRIP. 
on the eoffi-Q, failing which, a dark-colored mantle or 
plaid is thrown over the rough planks, and with it 
consigned to the grave. Oh ! little did the poor fellow 
think that his suit of light black clothes made ex~ 
pressly for the climate, and in which he would appear 
at the Grovernor’s ball in Kandj, were never to be 
worn, until nailed to his coffin : that he went to Ceylon 
to die, and carried his shroud in his trunk ! 
But the bright side is not so bad. If one comes well 
through their first fever or illness, it will probably? do 
him good, and, ' with ordinary care, he afterwards 
enjoy as good health as any in England. As a rule 
European women do — or rather did — not keep their 
health on coffee estate. This in a great measure may 
-arise from a want of any occupation or work, anything 
to do. They cuinot go out during the day, unless in a 
carriage, and comparatively few estates have carriage 
roads approaching to them. There are plent.y of serv- 
ants t ) do, over-do, or undo, all the house work. In 
this department she is a superior amongst many 
supernumeries. Well, what can they do ? The- hardest 
work of all is — nothing. 
The seasoning fever previously referred to may be 
brought on, us it frequently is, by over- exertion, or 
too much exposure, on a fresh or after a brief arrival 
in the country.^ The writer had a very severe one : — 
Early in 1845, coolies being very scarce, my em- 
ployer determined upon sending me down to some of 
the northern roads to try and meet immigrant coolies. 
So, mounted on a good stout pony, with a change of 
clothes strapped to the saddle, accompanied by a Sin- 
halese man to act as interpreter, we proceeded to Kandy. 
Having waited there for a few days every uiorning 
visiting the “lines,” without any success, tlmre was 
nothing for it t)ut to make another start, so we deter- 
mined on going out the north-western road leading to 
and beyond Kiirunegala. About half -a mile out of 
Kandy, we leave the Peradeniya road, and turn sharp 
•off to the right along a winding road, with (then) dense 
brushwood above and below it. A short distance further 
we have to cross the river by means of ferry raft. At 
a distance of about sixteen milesf from Kandy we reach 
the town of Kurunegala, at which we halt for a few 
days, to try if any coolies c m be picked up. At that 
time the restbouse contained merely a table, a few i 
chairs, and some bedsteads. Travellers were expected * 
to take their own provisions with them, or order them ^ , 
as they came ; as for blankets, it was too hot for 
- fi. 
* Is there really and necessarily a seasoning fever for 
arrivals? We doubt it. — E d. 
t 26 miles rather. — E d. 
