CEYLON. 185 



CITY OF COLOMBO. 



The city of Colombo is an important port and the 

 largest city in the island. It has a very mixed popula- 

 tion of 128.000. More Europeans live here than any- 

 where else in Ceylon. The steamers anchor some dis- 

 tance from the wharf. It has excellent streets, the so- 

 called red streets, a bright red from the color of the 

 soil, electric lighting and electric tramways. The Grand 

 Oriental Hotel, near the wharf, is the best hostelry in 

 the island. Every room has an electric fan — a great 

 comfort to the traveler throughout the entire year. The 

 rooms of the hotel are never locked, as stealing and 

 robbery are almost unknown. The crowd of chamber- 

 men and servants are always ready to wait on the guests 

 and understand to perfection the system of exacting 

 a substantial tip. At present writing the temperature 

 in my room, in spite of the faithful fan, registers 91 

 F. The air is thoroughly saturated with moisture, 

 which is accountable for the oppressive sensation of 

 heat that every newcomer experiences. 



The Cinnamon Gardens is the city park and is a 

 lovelv place. The drives along the coast are beautiful 

 and disclose at every turn the luxurious vegetation of 

 this wonderful island. The native policemen are cour- 

 teous and devoted to their duties. They are fully im- 

 pressed with the responsibility and dignity of their of- 

 fice, and cross and recross their beats with a keen eye 

 for any evildoers. The city has a museum, free library 

 and many charitable institutions for the sick and poor. 



THE GENERAL CIVIL HOSPITAL. 



The hospital is made up of numerous one-story brick- 

 and-mortar pavilions connected by roofed colonnade, 

 cemented walks which impart to the whole complex of 

 buildings a fine architectural appearance. The snow- 

 white walls and pillars and the red tile roofs are in 

 strong and beautiful contrast with the perennial green 

 surrounding the building inside and outside of the 



