A VISIT TO CEYLON. 
163 
magnificent effects of light produced by the play of the sunbeams on 
the broad quivering feathery leaves of the cocoa nut palms and on their 
white gracefully-bent trunks, as well as on the tender pale green leaves 
of enormous size. He captured an enormous spider with a thick body, 
2^in. long, and thin legs, 4in. long. On the sandy shore numbers of 
zoological surprises awaited him, left here by a low tide, enormous 
specimens of a splendid blue Medusa—a species of Crambessa , more 
than a foot across—a curious sea urchin, Diodon —with a thorny coat 
and its laryngeal sack blown out to a large size—large Serpulce, numerous 
Crustacea—notably the swift-footed sand crabs, that make pits in the 
sand, and fragments of skeletons of fish, and human skeletons, skulls, &c. 
But we must no longer linger at Bombay ; a pleasant voyage of five 
days brought the Professor from Bombay to Colombo. He says, “ it 
was on the 21st November, in the glorious light of a cloudless tropical 
morning that I first set foot on that ever-green island of marvels, 
Ceylon, where I was about to spend the most instructive and delightful 
months of my life.” He landed at Colombo by means of the curious 
native boat composed of a tree trunk, 20ft. long, and hollowed out, the 
width being only about 18in. It appears that although Galle has the 
finer harbour, Colombo is preferred, on account of its being the chief 
town, and most of the shipping interest is centered here. The climate 
is one of the hottest in the world, and the country round is flat. The 
principal streets of the town are decorated with shady avenues of a 
fine Mallow, Hibiscus ; the large yellow or red blossoms strew the earth 
in every direction. He speaks enthusiastically of “the astounding 
marvels of its magnificent vegetation: palms and Pisang, Pandanus and 
Lianas, tree ferns, banyans, &c.;” and of its no less interesting zoological 
treasures: apes, dappled Axis deer, parrots, and gorgeously coloured 
pigeons.” 
He remained for the first two weeks enjoying “ the hearty and 
home-like hospitality” of his countryman, Herr Stipperger, at “Whist 
Bungalow,” about three miles from the fort. This charming place 
owes its eccentric name to the fact that a former owner, an old 
English officer, used to invite his friends to play whist with him there 
on Sundays! During the ride there, through Pettah, scenes of tropical 
life passed before his astonished eyes, “ as changing pictures in a magic 
lantern!” All the mixed and motley population of every type character¬ 
istic of Colombo was out of doors, collected in knots in front of the little 
houses, or enjoying the shade of the cocoa nut trees. Most of the life 
and labour of the natives is carried on in public. The particular 
charm is “naive publicity and primitive simplicity.” Nature is so 
beneficent here that the little garden plots enclosing the native hovels 
constitute the chief income and sustenance of the people. Above all 
natural products must be placed the invaluable cocoa-nut palm, “ every 
part of which has its use,” often constituting the whole fortune of a 
Cinglaalese. The number of cocoa-nut palms in the island is estimated 
at forty millions, each producing from eighty to a hundred nuts, 
yielding eight to ten quarts of oil. From 60ft. to 80ft. in height, with 
white stem and a dense crown of immense pinnate leaves, it must 
