More than once in the course of our drive, half-naked
Indians produced from their waist-cloths rubies, sapphires, and
emeralds for which they asked from one to four thousand rupees, and
gratefully took fourpence, after a long run with the carriage, and
much vociferation and gesticulation. After _table-d'hote_ dinner at
the hotel we went off to the yacht in a pilot boat; the buoys were all
illuminated, and boats with four or five men in them, provided with
torches, were in readiness to show us the right way out. By ten
o'clock we were outside the harbour and on our way to Colombo.
_Friday, March 30th_.--It rained heavily during the night, and we were
obliged to sleep in the deck-house instead of on deck. At daylight all
was again bright and beautiful, and the cocoanut-clad coast of Ceylon
looked most fascinating in the early morning light. About ten o'clock
we dropped our anchor in the harbour at Colombo, which was crowded
with shipping. 175,000 coolies have been landed here within the last
two or three months; consequently labour is very cheap this year in
the coffee plantations.
The instant we anchored we were of course surrounded by boats selling
every possible commodity and curiosity, carved ebony, ivory,
sandal-wood, and models of the curious boats in use here.
Pages:
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563