CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 129 



very alert-looking, sitting up Buddha, with no 

 beauty of expression, only a great deal of cunning 

 and cleverness. Other colossal painted figures, 

 carved in relief, stand round the caves. The 

 walls are decorated, with rather grotesque 

 frescoes depicting the punishments of the wicked, 

 or else with lovely arabesque patterns that 

 would delight the heart of the Kensington 

 School of Art Needlework, so graceful and 

 original are the designs. I was astonished at 

 the freshness of the colours, but the friend who 

 accompanied me, an old resident of the district, 

 tells me that it has all been touched up within a 

 few years. There is a small hut built for the 

 priests amongst the rocks. I should think 

 many offerings must find their way here, as it 

 is on the direct road to India, and, therefore, 

 very accessible to pilgrims. The smaller rock 

 fissures are inhabited by thousands of bats. 

 In the day-time they hang from the projecting 

 portions like torn black banners, at night they 

 come out in ghoulish hosts, the priests, however 

 like to have them there. I put my head into 

 several of these clefts, but quickly withdrew for 

 the horrible odour was unbearable. There is 

 another much larger rock temple at Dambulla, 

 but this I have not seen. 



With the customary hospitality of Ceylon I 

 was invited to accompany my friends to 

 breakfast at a planter's bungalow about nine 



