The Tea people

Rachel Irving

Much of my childhood was spent in an English village with retired "Tea Planters" for neighbours. I'm very aware that the British went all over the world exploiting the riches of their colonies, but as individuals these were good people. Decades after they'd left Sri Lanka they were paid unexpected visits by the children and grandchildren of their ex-workers, so I imagine they were remembered as good employers. They were thrilled when, in my twenties I travelled to their old home town, and seemed pleased that I enjoyed my time in the tea growing mountains, far more than my time on the coast.

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