402 Voyage of the Novara. 



been previously an acquaintance of ours, as they were unable 

 to conceive the existence of such hearty good-will between 

 persons who were utter strangers to each other. The priest, 

 readily appreciating the results which must flow from the 

 reply he should give, in confirming the devout souls of his 

 children, replied that the reputation of his name had long 

 since penetrated to us, and we were unwilling to ride by 

 without turning aside to salute him, to which he had readily 

 expressed his assent, and had ?dso long since been apprized 

 of the important mission of the Austrian ship of war, whose 

 commander was termed by the natives, with the bombast of 

 their native tongue, " King of the Sea." At .our departure, 

 the kind Father presented us with several interesting articles, 

 as souvenirs of Makim, while we, on our part, left with 

 him a donation in money to defray the expenses of erecting 

 his church. 



Father Miliani, the band of musicians, consisting of ten or 

 twelve wild-looking fellows, with all manner of barbarous 

 musical instruments, of which they made not less barbarous 

 use, together with a laughing, yelling, gesticulating crowd of 

 half-naked Cingalese, with long raven locks floating over 

 their shoulders, accompanied us to our travelling chariot. 

 Here we took leave of the hospitable Father, the vehicle set 

 out on its route, and the whole brown retinue at once dis- 

 persed. 



Hardly had we left the Mission of St. Sebastian Makun 

 behind us, ere our troubles began afresh. At almost the 



