A TRAMP ABROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 104, 22 June 1900, Page 2

A TRAMP ABROAD.

I By W.G.—(Continued). AT COLOMBO. Colombo harbour presents a very lively appearance. No sooner had we entered ■ within the breakwater than the ship was surrounded by native boys in tbeir roughly constructed canoes. These boats are frail-looking things being merely three pieces of rough timber lashed together with some fibre resembling the material used by the Waikato natives for their whares. There is no heat, but the occupants look quite comfortable sitting on their heels, and ptojjpf themselves, at a fair rate of speed, with a piece of bamboo. Soon the scene was wore than ftjiiiffated; it was Babel From all sides the b.Qys cried simultaneously, " I di', di', di'." At first we wondered what the racket meant, but quickly found tha 1 ; they were waiting for s(iy.er coins to be thrown into the water. Jfc iui+ryelr lous to see how swiftly and uneningly they recovered these. I think there was not one instance of a boy missing a coin after which he had dived.

Coppei'B tfyey refused to tiy for, giving, as a leason', that tliey p.o.'.ik! not see them. No sooner was a cjip 'fjirowp than vvejit the bam Loo, into the water went the bo , soon to re-appear with it—which, after satisfying himself of its value, lie placed in his mo.utli In a moment he had regained lijs craft and resumed his cry, Some of | the boys climbed up the side of the siiip to th,e bq&t-dpck, and for sixpence would dive thence, but thpf deipupded < the reward first, for " some no give I after/' l''ouv of the boys clinging io I >tJio jviil of the j;ro»ii-ftad,e fJ'-'J-'k 4j» - e>*tly ' amused tho by .sjngiiig ;; 'Ja- I ra-ia-bojm-de-ay" to the aowufpsu*}? '

ment of a peculiar clicking noise macle I by the beating of the arm against the s.de. Ihey took up quite a large collecup'my mind that if the bufcter business in Taranaki fails, I have a line to fall back upon, As soon as the gangway was lowered the «tambies," or native traders, clambered over each other in their hurry to reach the decE. The scene there was confusion worse confounded, which words would fail to describe—all manner of articles were offered from a " button-hole " for your coat to elephants. I took a fancy for one of these latter, and instantly was surrounded by a howling, yelling mob offering elephants large and small; elephants of gold and silver; elephants white, elephants black, of bone, ivory and ebony. Of elephants I bought nineteen (19), and have serious thoughts of running a menagerie " on my own," No sooner had I got rid of the elephant tribe than I was accosted by the vendors of jewellery and precious stones. I was imposed upon to the extent of one sapphire, one topaz, ten cat's eyes, six moonstones and 21 bangles. Of course they are all genuine," entered at Stationer's Sail with the right of foreign translation reserved." Some of the articles offered at .£3 10s were, a minute before the ship was cleared, disposed of for the magnificent sum of one shilling (1 8 )1 Without a doubt the " tambies" of Colombo are the biggest liars on the face of the earth. Going ashore we had the choice of a launch or an outrigger canoe (catamaran). On land we were surrounded by coolies with rickshaws. The charge for these is not exorbitant, being only 25 cents the half hour. The rickshaw coolies are a mean-looking lot. My first ride in a rickshaw was in Durban, when I had a fine, strapping, six foot Zulu dressed in all his war paint and feathers. How that Zulu could run! It was a very hot day, but he managed to create a grand breeze as he sped along, I looked out the likeliest coolie and engaged him. We went through the markets, the native quarter, visited the Cinnamon Gardens, Victoria Park, Fresh Water Lake, the Museum, the Fort, the offices of the Turkish Consul, the Governor's residence, and a Buddhist temple. We went through the latter and what the tambies lacked in the art of fabrication was more than made up for by the creatures who showed us round. I had am uncomfortable feeling in this temple. The rest of the party had continued their ride, and I was alone in this evil-smelling place, with five of the most deep-dyed villains (judging from appearances) I ever set eyes on. When the round of inspection was completed, they brought me to a door which was closed, and behind which was something that looked like a cross between a kerosene tin and the hood of a a lawn-mower. This the black-est-looking of the guides told me was an alms-box for the poor. I had already paid twice as much as the show was worth, and told him so, but he jabbered away and said something about keeping up the temple. As there was no sign of the door being opened, I threw in ten cents., and thought it a cheap releue. Throughout the drive I was besieged by women and children clamouring for money. 1 told my coolie that if I gave any more money away to tliem I should have none for him, so when the children crowded • round the rickshaw with the flowers and pieces of sweet-smelling woojils for which they expect money, a few words gruffly spoken in his own language most effectually scattered them. We saw Colombo under very favourable circumstances, the day wo arrived being one of the coolleston record-for this lime of the year. In and around the town we noticed the cocoanut palm, banana, banyan, breadfruit, jack-fruit, hibiscus, Buddha's tree with its brilliant blossoms, the mango and the graceful areco palm, all of which, with other palms and beautiful ferns, were growing luxuriantly in the grounds of the public buildings and European residences. It was " Guest Night" at the Grand Oriental Hotel, and many of our fellow-passengers took the opportunity of dining out. It was <|uite a swell affair and thoroughly Oriental. Punkahs wafted the heavily perfumed air refreshingly over us while we listened to the sweet strains of music. The fragrance, the music, the lights, the flowers and foliage, and the crowds of dusky attendants made one think of a picture out of the Arabian Nights. We were sorry our stay was so limited, making it impossible for us to visit the mountain capital Kandy, seventy miles from Colombo. Mount Lavinia, an hour's drive from Colombo, is most interesting, Wa were told that pn the way to the latter there is a land tortoise 150 years old. We believed it, but we had no time to go and see. THJJ VOYAGE RESUMED. We left Colombo next day at 10 a.m. and are now ploughing our way through calm, sapphire seas. Here and there are to be seen flying fish which glisten like silver as they skim over the water. The Southern Cross is getting very low in the heavens, to the great regret of the New Zealanders, but to [an Old Country Britisher the North Star will be a sight to see. JfOIJE NEW ZEALANDERS. Since writing from Melbourn& J have discovered several more New Zealanders on board. A lady and her ilsiugjiter from Kaikoura, a lady from Ohristchufch, q, select contingent" from Wellington cQinmoply called " The Government House Party," the Eev. Mr. Larkins and Miss Larkins, who have relations in New Plymouth and vy.ere living in Waitara some years ago; Miss Newrftan, from New Plymouth, is also a passenger.

INTERESTING CONTESTS. Hid we discovered all these good folks ca: lier we might, when the sports .vera on, have got up a match " New Zoalmders against the Rest of the Empire." I forgot to mention the sports. The Rev. Mr. Larkins was elected president of the inevitable committee and J acted as Secretary. They passed off very well. The chief item vae a cricket match and was described, with the usual colonial modesty, " Australasia v. The World." I regret to lave to ptate that the colonials won the 'irst match. However, I ha(J the exrtme satisfaction of'doing the hat rick and getting top score each inaiugs. fa tjje second match we gave

the poor colonials " beans" with a vengeance, they only scoring the magnificent -f me ruß) and that, was an extra 1

The Old Country Britishers also : showed their breeding by winning the tug-of-war, the Cornstalks" and Company not having a show at all, at all. 1 THE BED SEA. I am writing this in the Gulf of Suez, and am hurrying up to post it at the entrance to the Canal. The weather has been lovely since leaving Colombo, calm blue seas all the way. The much dreaded- heat has not been in evidence. With the exception of about two hours on the evening we entered the Gulf of Aden the weather might be termed ex-

ceedingly mild. Two of the cooks were indisposed at the latter place, but the Red Sea has not been true to its reputation. In the first place it is not red at all, and instead of hot, dry winds from Africa and Arabia we have had cool breezes that might have come from Mt. Egmont in the summer time. All is life and animation on board at the prospect of going ashore, and I for one, though I have enjoyed the trip, shall be glad when we sail up the English Channel and see the white cliiis of Albion. Hurrah for old England!