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Deryck de la
Motte was a ‘cockroach’ born of French-Dutch
Burgher descent. A cockroach or lunchi was the name given
to foreign Burghers by the indigenous people of Ceylon
in the 1930s. Rich in legend, the island provided this
young boy with an exciting childhood, culminating in his
becoming an under-fireman on a steam train in the high
mountainous interior, before emigrating to Australia at
the age of 26.
His memoirs share
the life of a boy growing up on a series of tea, rubber
and coconut plantations; including weird experiences
in schools and boarding houses and some hair-raising tussles
with trains.
“Deryck, with his penchant for story
telling, brings to us a fascinating picture of how life
was seen through Burgher eyes. His experiences of yesteryear
remind us so vividly of how it used to be and then how things
are now. Certainly a most interesting narrative of
Ceylon life.”
- Garry Protheroe -
ISBN: 978-0-9758199-8-2
Publication date: August 2008
Paperback - 266 pages
Retail Price: AUD $22.95
Where to order your copy |
