CHAPTER VIII 

 India 



Colombo is one of the most fascinating places in 

 the world, partly because it has beauty and a charm 

 of its own, but more because it is one of the world's 

 greatest meeting-places. In the latter respect it ranks 

 with Hong-kong, San Francisco, and London. Sooner 

 or later you will meet every wanderer you have known 

 elsewhere in one or another of these cities, and in all 

 of them you can feel the pulse of the world beat. They 

 are right on the main track of civiHsation. 



If you are a mere tourist in Colombo your life 

 will not be a happy one. A detestable crowd of touts, 

 attracted by your clothing or by your manners, will 

 accompany you everywhere. They are horrible 

 creatures, ranging from the pious Hindu who wants 

 to sell you faked precious stones down to the meanest 

 of ware-mongers. 



But once persuade Colombo that you are not a 

 tourist and you can be quite happy. The touts have 

 no use for the experienced traveller. He can sit in 

 peace on the verandah of one of the great hotels whilst 

 the family on the next seat is being driven nearly mad. 

 His obvious knowledge of travel serves him as a kind 

 of moral mosquito net. 



253 



