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 19
... Pukka fellow , no ? ' he told Maudiegirl . ' One to talk . Two hours boasting , boasting . > And damn cheek , no ? Telling will take Leah to big ship . And in front of me ! Not even asking . Just telling . Because he is Eric's relation ...
... Pukka fellow , no ? ' he told Maudiegirl . ' One to talk . Two hours boasting , boasting . > And damn cheek , no ? Telling will take Leah to big ship . And in front of me ! Not even asking . Just telling . Because he is Eric's relation ...
Page 31
... Pukka party , no ? ' said Totoboy , ' Where are you living ? ' Iris smiled . ' You can come with me . Not far . ' ' Pukka girl you are , ' said Totoboy . ' Oh the head you hit . Stitches for sure . ' Iris whooped and swayed . ' Getting ...
... Pukka party , no ? ' said Totoboy , ' Where are you living ? ' Iris smiled . ' You can come with me . Not far . ' ' Pukka girl you are , ' said Totoboy . ' Oh the head you hit . Stitches for sure . ' Iris whooped and swayed . ' Getting ...
Page 169
... Pukka buggers these railway town people ! In the opposite bungalow , guard ' Tintack ' Mack tells his wife : ' Mabel , those buggers are shouting again . ' ' Who ? That Samson ? ' Who else ? There ... what was that ? ' ' What , what ...
... Pukka buggers these railway town people ! In the opposite bungalow , guard ' Tintack ' Mack tells his wife : ' Mabel , those buggers are shouting again . ' ' Who ? That Samson ? ' Who else ? There ... what was that ? ' ' What , what ...
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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