A VISIT TO CEYLON. 
165 
We reluctantly pass over mucli interesting matter in order to 
accompany the Professor in his visit to Belligam (Cinglialese Veligama , 
—sand village, but for which by a graceful fancy he not inappropriately 
gives a new derivation Bella gemma — lovely gem, because in his 
recollection it was “A choice jewel in nature’s casket.”) Here by the 
sea in the “ Rest-house” (a kind of Government hotel) he established 
his zoological laboratory and dwelt six weeks among the Cinghalese. 
He records the kind services rendered by the “ shrewd old Rest-house 
keeper,” whom he named “ Socrates,” and the devoted attentions 
of the gentle Pariah boy, whom he named “ Ganymede.” The 
village is very beautiful, situated in the midst of cocoa woods, and 
the sheltered bay is rich in corals. Notwithstanding the difficulties 
attending the study of marine zoology in the Tropics, with the 
temperature from 86° to 90° Far. in the shade, and with the 
atmosphere so humid that the skins of birds and mammals shot and 
prepared with pains and hung in the sun every day for weeks were 
always thoroughly wetted through again every night, with an absence 
of glass windows to his laboratory, which was consequently open to 
every flying and creeping creature, and without a single assistant 
except the Cinghalese, the Professor secured and studied many new 
and interesting forms of Marine life. He speaks of the elegant Medusce 
and beautiful Siphonophora, Salpce , Hyaleadce , and other Pteropoda, 
larvae of Mollusca and lovely Polyps and Corals. The difficulties of 
examining living specimens were immense, for specimens which in 
his previous experience in the Mediterranean did not decompose until 
after five to ten hours, had begun to do so at Belligam in half an hour. 
After Belligam came excursions to Basamuua point—Mirissa 
headland—Kogalla Yeva, the rocky lake—Boralu Yeva, the pebble 
lake, Dondera head, or thunder cape, the town of Matura on the 
Nilwella Gs-nga, the blue sand river, all of which added to his knowledge 
and pleasure. The learned Professor devoted the last month of his 
stay in Ceylon to a visit to the coffee district and hill country. In the 
coffee district this once famous trade had succumbed from its 
maximum between 1845 and 1850 from over speculation and from 
dangerous natural foes, The greedy Golunda rat (Golunda Elliotti) 
the mischievous coffee bug (Lecanium coffece), and the worst foe of all, 
the microscopic fungus (Hemileja vastatiix). Tea and quinine 
(Cinchona bark) have, however, taken its place with great success.” 
At Newera Ellia (pronounced Nurellia), “a remote and dismal spot” 
in the hill country, the town stands in an elliptical mountain valley, 
with a range of mountains 1,500ft. to 2,000ft. high. It is used as a 
sanitarium or health-resort by the Europeans, but, according to the 
Professor, its excessive dampness, with cold, frosty nights and hot 
days—the temperature at noon being often 86°—are great natural 
obstacles to its success in this respect, and he “ considers its merits 
monstrously over-rated.” Nevertheless, it is a fashionable resort for 
the European residents, with the accompanying evils of high prices 
and bad accommodation ! The most remarkable objects seen near 
