AND THE MALAY STATES 13 



My first task after I was comfortably settled at the Galle Face was 

 to buy a sun helmet, or topee, which I was lucky enough to find in one 

 of the native stores that occupy the ground floor of the hotel. There 

 are two dangers against which visitors to this part of the world must 

 guard most carefully ; one is exposure to the sun, and the other a sudden 

 chill. In no part of the world, if reports are true, is the sun so deadly as 

 here, but the danger may be reduced to a minimum if one will but listen 

 to the advice of the older residents, and take reasonable precautions. A 

 pith sun helmet is indispensable, as straw or felt hats are sources of 



STREET SCENE IN COLOMBO. 



danger, and a cap is worst of all. In addition, one should at first carry 

 an umbrella as well. Nor is the danger present only at midday, or when 

 there are no clouds. It is practically as bad at seven in the morning, or 

 when the sky is wholly covered with clouds. The habits of the dwellers 

 here that is, the Europeans, speak of this danger. Mfen and women 

 wear sun helmets and carry sun umbrellas, while broad verandahs and 

 close lattices guard the houses. Even the railway carriages have, in 

 addition to curtains, visor-like projections to keep out the searching rays 



