PUSSELLAWA. 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
De Omnibus Rebus. 
Our readers will remember that last chapter closed with 
some reminiscences of the old Gampola ferry, and of 
the meeting of friends that sometimes took place there. 
Also, that we were on the return home from an annual 
holiday trip. Late in the afternoon the ferry was crossed, 
and onwards we jog as fast as the old pony will go, which 
was at the average rate of two miles an hour, up the 
Pass towards Pussellawa. What a fine climate you get into 
on reaching Wagahapitiya, as compared with the steamy 
heat of the low-country, and as the cool mountain 
breezes whistle through the airholes of the double crown- 
ed sun hat, we felt thankful then, and feel more so now, 
that we Lad such a fine climate to live in, as we be- 
lieve it is just about as healthy a one as any in the 
world — that is to say if you don’t forget you are 
in the tropics, which one is sometimes apt to, and 
take ordin iry care of yourself. The old Pussellawa rest- 
house stood on a knoll above the high-road, and the 
small village, with the whole of the Rothschild and 
Moiiaragala estates, sj)read out to view in front, and 
the approach of it was at the sharp turn of the road, 
with the Black Forest coffee above, and the Rothschild 
b*dow. Xow, we had no intention at all of visiting, or 
remaining at this resthouse, being quite tired of rest- 
houses, in so far as our financial resources were at a 
low ebb. True we were well known, and could “pay 
next time” — but we were anxious to push home, which 
was seven miles off. “But it takes two to make a bargain,” 
which the pony seemed perfectly well aware of, or, if not, 
he was of a different opinion from his rider, and had 
made up his mind to have his own views carried out 
at all risks. He evidently knew very well where he 
was, and that he was close to the resthouse stable, 
and, if his rider did not require or desire a rest, why, 
he did, and was determined to have his own 
way. As w^e entered the bazar, the pony pricked 
up his ears and went off at a trot. The approach 
up to the resthouse was at a sharp turn of the road/, 
at a bridge just below the Black Forest estate, and 
when we came to this approach, the pony made a dart 
up, but, being from past experiences prepared for this 
action, he was checked ; he then wheels round and round, 
on the road, eventually backing into the drain, both 
his hind quarters fixed against the bank, and his fore- 
feet planted on the edge of the road ; there he re- 
remained fixed and immovable. All the loungers about 
the bazaar now came out, and were highly entertained 
at the spectacle ; our indignation at this animal now 
