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 186
... banana leaf ) ; fish koftas , fried squid in what was known as a ' bedun ' ( a thick gravy sauce ) and that sneaky wonder , the tara padre curry which was curried duck but cooked with ghee , sugar , coconut milk and ― hold your breath ...
... banana leaf ) ; fish koftas , fried squid in what was known as a ' bedun ' ( a thick gravy sauce ) and that sneaky wonder , the tara padre curry which was curried duck but cooked with ghee , sugar , coconut milk and ― hold your breath ...
Page 197
... bananas , this bunch is hard to beat . Meanwhile Tommyboy telegraphs Bertie and impresses on him that the bananas he is sending certainly merit his attention . Bertie is impressed . Good old Tommyboy , he says , never forgets a pal . He ...
... bananas , this bunch is hard to beat . Meanwhile Tommyboy telegraphs Bertie and impresses on him that the bananas he is sending certainly merit his attention . Bertie is impressed . Good old Tommyboy , he says , never forgets a pal . He ...
Page 198
... bananas are carried to the Guards Inspector's Office where the bunch is cut into several combs and the driver gets a share , the stationmaster and underguard their share and everybody is pleased ... all , that is , except Bertie who ...
... bananas are carried to the Guards Inspector's Office where the bunch is cut into several combs and the driver gets a share , the stationmaster and underguard their share and everybody is pleased ... all , that is , except Bertie who ...
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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