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. |
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Page 180
... garden wall , where Totoboy & Co. had deposited them , were the lanterns . Sonnaboy opened the door and looked at the constables interestedly . ' Happy Christmas , ' he said . ' Where from on your wall came these lanterns ? ' ' Lanterns ...
... garden wall , where Totoboy & Co. had deposited them , were the lanterns . Sonnaboy opened the door and looked at the constables interestedly . ' Happy Christmas , ' he said . ' Where from on your wall came these lanterns ? ' ' Lanterns ...
Page 189
... garden and insisted that the lounger be put in the shade of the large sapodilla tree so that he could relax there . He had had three whiskies and said he was happy ; so happy that he could scarcely think of lunch which was a most ...
... garden and insisted that the lounger be put in the shade of the large sapodilla tree so that he could relax there . He had had three whiskies and said he was happy ; so happy that he could scarcely think of lunch which was a most ...
Page 200
... garden which had a board stating PRIVATE NO ADMITICEN and which everybody used since such boards with correct or incorrect spelling , were always ignored . A trek through the garden brought them to the bottom of St. Lawrence's Road and ...
... garden which had a board stating PRIVATE NO ADMITICEN and which everybody used since such boards with correct or incorrect spelling , were always ignored . A trek through the garden brought them to the bottom of St. Lawrence's Road and ...
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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