[Eight Years’ Wandering in Ceylon by Samuel White Baker]@TWC D-Link bookEight Years’ Wandering in Ceylon CHAPTER II 4/18
In about fortnight, however, the wind and rain showed flags of truce in the shape of white clouds set in a blue sky.
The gale ceased, and the skylarks warbled high in air, giving life and encouragement to the whole scene.
It was like a beautiful cool mid-summer in England. I had about eighty men at work; and the constant click-clack of axes, the felling of trees, the noise of saws and hammers and the perpetual chattering o the coolies gave a new character to the wild spot upon which I had fixed. The work proceeded rapidly; neat white cottages soon appeared in the forest; and I expected to have everything in readiness for the emigrants on their arrival.
I rented a tolerably good house in Newera Ellia, and so far everything had progressed well. The "Earl of Hardwick" arrived after a prosperous voyage, with passengers and stock all in sound health; the only casualty on board had been to one of the hounds.
In a few days all started from Colombo for Newera Ellia.
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