KANDY IN EAELY PLANTNG DAYS„ 
year, to which most of the leading Europeans and 
up-country planters are invited. There are now several 
good hotels at which fair accommodation maybe obtained"^ 
Mow different from 1844, when there was only one, with 
bedrooms or father boxes, looking out into a stable*yard, 
and the only fare tough beefsteaks and rice and curr5\ 
The jail f is a commodious building, but few Euro- 
peans are practically acquainted with its internal 
conveniences* It is largely patronized by natives, na 
doubt very unwillingly, and it is one of the sights of 
the town to see the native prisoners marched out and 
in to and from their work in shackles, for they used 
to be turned out under guards and made to perform 
a good deal of useful work, in cleaning, etc., about the 
town and its environs : a very good plan and one which 
might he usefully adopted in the old country where 
labour is scarce and dear. The philanthropists would 
doubtless raise a howl and complain of the hardening 
effects upon criminals in having their feelings hurt 
by being so publicly exposed. But the public exposure 
would do good and serve as an example and warning 
to others, It would probably have a better practical effect 
on the offenders themselves than a few weeks’ or months’ 
confinement, doing nothing, which, in many , cases,, 
is considered no punishment at all. A European of 
some position and standing was once confined in jail 
for some comparatively trifling offence or misdemeanour. 
He was very fond of the bottle, and had brought 
himself to think from long habit that “a drop of 
the crater ” was necessary to his enjoyable existence. 
In jail, of course, this could not be tolerated, and some 
of his friends, knowing the state he would be in from 
want of it, filled a dozen soda-water bottles with gin, 
corked them up, and explained to the gaoler that as 
bis prisoner would probably be thirsty they had brought 
him some soda-water, to which of course no objection 
was made. When the prisoner was informed of the 
contents of the bottles he w^as cautioned to use them 
with great discretion, so that none of the effects might 
be seen upon him, to which he readily assented. But 
no sooner were the friends gone than a bottle was opened 
and, feeling himself powerfully refreshed, he opened 
and finished another ; he could not resist, and never 
stopped his refreshment till the whole of the bottles 
were empty. The gaoler, on his next periodical visit, 
reports his prisoner lying dead on the floor ; of course 
a medical man was called, and every arrangement was 
©iitered into in order to have a post-mortem examina* 
^ Not many : two or three at most. Kandy lias now 
Club though.-” E j>, C. 0.- 
f A grand new oiio ia about completed. — E d. G, 0.- 
