We drove back to our host's to breakfast, and directly afterwards
started in two carriages to go to church at Kandy. The church is a
fine large building, lofty, and cool, and well ventilated. This being
Easter Sunday, the building was lavishly decorated with palms and
flowers. The service was well performed, and the singing was
excellent. The sparrows flew in and out by the open doors and windows.
One of the birds was building a nest in a corner, and during the
service she added to it a marabout feather, a scrap of lace, and an
end of pink riband. It will be a curious nest when finished, if she
adds at this rate to her miscellaneous collection.
After church we walked to the Government House. Sir William Gregory
is, unfortunately for us, away in Australia, and will not return till
just after our departure. The entrance to it was gay with gorgeous
scarlet lilies, brought over by some former Governor from South
America. It is a very fine house, but unfinished. We wandered through
the 'banquet halls deserted,' and then sat a little while in the broad
cool airy verandah looking into the beautiful garden and on to the
mountain beyond.
At half-past eleven it was time to leave this delightfully cool
retired spot, and to drive to a very pleasant luncheon, served on a
polished round walnut-wood table, without any tablecloth, a novel and
pretty plan in so hot a climate.
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