37© Voyage of the Novara. 



cultivated manners, and dressed in a woollen robe, ushered 

 us into a darkened chamber opposite, and received us most 

 cordially. This worthy priest, by the name of Miliani, was 

 not less surprised at being- visited at this solitary mission 

 by Austrian travellers, and with the most lively satisfaction 

 and the utmost readiness to oblige, offered us all the 

 assistance in his power. In spite of our hurry, we had 

 to take a cup of coffee a la Romagna, with our hospitable 

 missionary, and to promise to visit him on our return journey. 

 Father Mihani has already lived many years in this country, 

 and ministers to a Christian community of more than 1000 

 souls. Altogether there are in Ceylon about 50 Catholic mis- 

 sionaries under a Bishop whose residence is in Colombo. Our 

 priestly host was greatly respected by the Cingalese, but 

 he evidently was overjoyed at being able once more to 

 express his thoughts and feelings in his native Italian. 



It was evening ere, with many a hearty shake of the hand, 

 we tore ourselves away from the cordial hospitality of 

 St. Sebastian de Makun. Horse and driver this time g^ave 

 hope of faster progress. But we were doomed once more to 

 experience a severe disappointment, and although we were 

 only about 10 or 12 miles distant from Colombo, which was 

 our destination, it took us five long hours to get over the 

 ground. The night was very dark, but the road was con- 

 tinually illuminated with torches of palm, carried by the 

 homeward plodding natives, which emitted a gloomy light 

 alternating with showers of sparks. 



