The Jam Fruit TreeWinner of the Gratiean Memorial Prize for the best work in English Literature by a Sri Lankan for 1993 Hilarious, affectionate, candid and moving, this is the story of the Burghers of Sri Lanka... Who are the Burghers? Descended from the Dutch, the Portuguese, the British and other foreigners who arrived in the island-nation of Sri Lanka (and 'mingled' with the local inhabitants), the Burghers often stand out because of their curiously mixed features-grey eyes in an otherwise Dravid face, for instance.... A handsome and guileless people, the Burghers have always lived it up, forever willing to 'put a party'. Carl Muller, a Burgher himself, writes in this quasi-fictional, engaging biography of the lives of his people; they emerge, at the end of his story, as a race of fun-loving, hardy people, much like the jam fruit tree which simply refuses to be contained or destroyed. |
From inside the book
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Page 147
... Colombo Fellows ' who had come with some crazy ' Colombo ideas . ' ' What they trying to do ? ' ' Mad devils , on the railway , lorry trying to take . ' A couple of mongrels who hung around the platform canteen and never needed to buy ...
... Colombo Fellows ' who had come with some crazy ' Colombo ideas . ' ' What they trying to do ? ' ' Mad devils , on the railway , lorry trying to take . ' A couple of mongrels who hung around the platform canteen and never needed to buy ...
Page 193
... Colombo , became a hive of activity , and in Kollupitiya the R.A.F. base also saw large bodies of airmen who rode around in camouflaged trucks and half jeeps . Shore batteries were installed at Galle Buck and pillboxes lined the coast ...
... Colombo , became a hive of activity , and in Kollupitiya the R.A.F. base also saw large bodies of airmen who rode around in camouflaged trucks and half jeeps . Shore batteries were installed at Galle Buck and pillboxes lined the coast ...
Page 197
... Colombo where it is ardently regarded by guard , underguard , porters , brake goods man and other railway types who all agree that as bananas , this bunch is hard to beat . Meanwhile Tommyboy telegraphs Bertie and impresses on him that ...
... Colombo where it is ardently regarded by guard , underguard , porters , brake goods man and other railway types who all agree that as bananas , this bunch is hard to beat . Meanwhile Tommyboy telegraphs Bertie and impresses on him that ...
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Common terms and phrases
Anna baby beef Beryl bloody Bloss bottle bring British brothers brought buggers Burgher cake called Carloboy carried Cecilprins child Christmas church Colombo Colontota coming considered course court daughter door drink eggs Elaine Elsie Elva Eric everything eyes face Father fellow Florrie fruit gate gave George getting girl give hand head Iris keep kitchen knew lady Lane Leah legs letter listen live look Lord Mama manner marry Maudiegirl months morning mother moved never never mind nice night nodded Opel Papa poor railway road shouting Sinhalese Sonnaboy sort sure talk tell thing thought told took Totoboy tree turned Viva wait wedding whole wife woman write