14 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



graphs, and pictures, antlers, and various 

 ornaments adorn the walls ; numberless cushions 

 make the chairs and sofas comfortable, and 

 books, newspapers, and work lie about in all 

 directions. Flowers give colour and cheerful- 

 ness, such flowers as you in England have in 

 greenhouses, here they grow wild, and are 

 generally brought me by the coolies who have 

 observed my love for them, and are quite 

 pleased with a few cents in return. As I write 

 I have before me, pink oleander, the golden 

 mohur, scarlet hibiscus, a kind of mauve 

 greenhouse periwinkle ; a yellow trumpet flower, 

 and champac from which frangipani is distilled, 

 it is here called the "temple flower," as it is 

 usually one of the offerings at the Buddhist 

 temples. In Kandy, on one of their high 

 festivals, I saw a Sinhalese lady, followed by 

 her servants carrying champac blossoms on 

 silver trays, proceeding to offer them on the 

 beautiful silver altars prepared for the purpose. 

 In the verandah we have many pots filled with 

 ferns, caladiums, and other foliage plants. 



Our little establishment consists of two 

 servants, and a kitchen "cooly." The "appu," 

 or headservant, who has been some years with 

 Rob, is a kind of Admirable Crichton, he cooks 

 an excellent dinner, looks after the poultry, 

 superintends the garden, gives a general super- 

 vision' to his Master's clothes, and when meat 



