JUNGLE-FEVER. 
i’ag round their waists, earthen chatties for cooking, 
and a little rice for food, all carried on the top of 
the head, a straw or grass mat for sleeping on at 
night, rolled np, and slung o^er the back, marshalled 
in line, two deep. The order was given to march, 
myself and the Sinhaiese interpreter bringing up the 
rear. On arriving at the several resthouses, where 
rest and refreshment were required, both for myself 
and coolies, while taking care not to bring them too 
near the building, in case of a repetition of what had 
happened in Kandy, a spot of ground was selected for 
them, so that they might nob be out of sight. In due 
time we presented ourselves before my employer. The 
coolies were sent over the rock. Much to my surprise 
the excitement which kept me up, led me to go 
to bed, and a medical gentleman who resided at some 
distance off was immediately sent for. On his arrival, 
he pronounced me to be fairly in for a shaiq) and 
strong attack of jungle fever, stating at the same 
time, it was a wonder how I had ari-ived : that, if 
another day or two had been allowed to run on, I 
would have been laid up on the road. This jungle fever 
more or less attacks coolies and masters all along the 
immigration roads. Generally on a soft short green 
!) sward of grass, in the opening of the jungle, maybe 
sseen the graves of the collies who have died on the 
I road. Sometimes, a rude sort of cross may be seen 
I erected at the heads of some of them ; these are Christi- 
I f ans — x^robably, almost invariably, Roman Catholics. 
These graves were dug hurihediy, without any proper 
tools, in a hard, scorched-up ground, were very shallow, 
and of insufficient depth. The consequences were that 
jackals dug into them and fed on the corpses, some- 
times even drawing them out of the graves, so that ther«? 
might be seen, scattered about, bleached skulls and 
bones. It was even not unusual to see dying coolies 
and dead bodies, lying along the roadside ; during 
the onward journey the sick were frequently left behind, 
in order that the whole gang might hurry on to the 
estate as speedily as possible. After being locat.-d there, 
a requ^^st would be made for a few of the men to 
return, and bring forward those that were left behind 
sick. 
Coolies have natural feelings and affections, often 
leaving aged parents in their native Aullages, depending 
on the wages which they hope to earn on the coffee 
^ estates. When the sad news reaches them, “ Died on 
y the road,” or when the return gang are reported on 
their way back, friends and relations come out to meet 
* All this is a very old story, referring to a state of 
things long since improved out of existence, — E d. 
