Every Day Life on a Ceylon Cocoa Estate by Mary E. Steuart

I was always fond of seeing new countries, so when I received a pressing invitation from my son to spend the winter with him in Ceylon, I quickly made up my mind to accept, and took my passage in the Bibby Liner "Cheshire, " only too glad to escape the damp and cold of an English winter. I sailed from the Mersey one murky November morning, but quickly emerged into sunshine, and after an exceptionally fine voyage with the pleasantest of company, arrived in Colombo early in December, where I was met by my son.

He had written of a delightful bungalow with tennis court, and rose garden, within a short distance of Kandy, and surrounded by pleasant neighbours. Imagine my disappointment when I found that, with the uncertainty appertaining to everything in Ceylon, he had been transferred to an estate lately bought by the Company (his employers); an estate so isolated that there were no neighbours within visitable distance; where he had to send sixteen miles for provisions, and, worst of all, where the bungalow only contained sufficient accommodation for a bachelor. There was nothing to be done but to make the best of an awkward situation. I obtained permission to add a room to the house, and made up my mind to face a certain amount of roughing with a cheerful countenance. I have since found out, that what I missed in civilization and comfort, I gained in novelty and interest.