114 JULY 



of 2 inches in one hour. The torrent rushes along 

 the gutter like a tiny mighty river, and leaps from 

 step to step, dropping with a roar like a miniature 

 Niagara, into the pond that is now beginning to 

 rise every day. The pond is 120 feet square, and 

 20 feet deep, and when full is a good expanse of 

 water ; in the hot weather it nearly dries up, 

 though. We wish so much that it would keep 

 full up to the edge, or even half way, as then we 

 could make it look more ornamental with aquatic 

 plants and water-lilies, the sacred lotus. When 

 full, it shows picturesquely the variegated shrubs 

 planted round the edge, reflecting back their vivid 

 colours. 



Now I have had some trouble in persuading 

 these plants to grow. I was most anxious to 

 lessen the ugly square appearance of these bare 

 banks, and I planted one thing after another, but 

 with no success. Everything would die or shrivel 

 up, chiefly owing to the bad soil and the strong 

 growth of grass roots, and by the fierce heat of the 

 sun reflected from the water as well as overhead. 

 But at last it is looking quite decorated, after 

 repeated efforts. Over the arbour from which 



