Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
It was with the greatest difficulty she could at length be removed from
the tragic scene, and confided to the care of some neighboring
villagers. I had occasion to revisit the same scenes some few months
after, and found the bereaved wife, but, indeed, how changed! I could
hardly recognize her. Day and night, I was informed, she wandered about,
calling on her husband and child. A deep, settled gloom, beyond any
thing I ever witnessed, was upon her features; her eyes had a wandering,
restless expression. She knew me immediately, and talked in the most
pathetic strain of her hapless child and husband. Poor creature! I tried
to console her, but in vain. She said, her only wish was, as soon as the
monsoon, or rainy season abated, to prosecute her journey to the Ganges,
and die by its sacred stream. I remonstrated with her on this folly,
and, explained to her the divine truths of Christianity. All in vain!
She was fixed in her resolution; and when I pointed to the heavens, and
spoke of the mercies of God and His power, she replied, "that were He
powerful, He could not be merciful, or He would not have taken her
husband and child away without taking her also." All I could say made no
impression, nor seemed to abate her determination, and time would not
permit my stay, nor did I ever chance again to traverse the same scenes;
but I have no doubt, from my knowledge of Indian character, she
subsequently carried her resolution into effect.
COFFEE PLANTING IN CEYLON.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.--CHAPTER THE FIRST.
In the month of September, 1840, I started from Kandy, the ancient
capital of Ceylon, to visit a friend who was in charge of one of the
many new coffee clearings then in progress. I was accompanied by a young
planter well acquainted with the country and the natives, and who had
offered to act as my guide. The clearing was distant about twenty-five
miles. The route we took has since become famous. Rebellion and martial
law have stalked over it; and concerning it, the largest blue books of
last session have been concocted.
We mounted our horses a good hour before day-break, so as to insure
getting over the most exposed part of our journey before the sun should
have risen very high, an important matter for man and beast in tropical
countries. Toward noon, we pulled up at a little bazaar, or native shop,
and called for "_Hoppers and Coffee_." I felt that I could have eaten
almost any thing, and, truly, one needs such an appetite to get down the
dreadful black-draught which the Cingalese remorselessly administer to
travelers, under the name of coffee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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