214 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



I was delighted to see so large a congregation 

 at the early celebration at 7.15 a.m. True, the 

 women predominated, but there was a good 

 sprinkling of the masculine element, and here 

 and there I rejoiced to see a few young planters 

 who did not forget their mother's training in 

 this far away land. Two native clergymen 

 assisted the vicar, and there were numerous 

 Sinhalese amongst the congregation, most of 

 the native ladies wearing a scarf of spotted 

 white net over their glossy black hair, but this 

 was not universally the case. I was surprised 

 to see so many natives attending an English 

 Service as there are services in Sinhalese neld 

 for their special benefit. It shows that in the 

 towns, at any rate, education must have made 

 considerable strides. 



The Church was delightfully airy, lancet 

 shaped doors nearly the height of the nave take 

 the place of windows, the double doors, except- 

 ing in wet, stormy weather are open during 

 services, and thus every available breath of air 

 finds its way into the Church. Outside, the 

 ground allotted to St. Paul's is shaded by 

 particularly fine spreading old trees, and under 

 the shelter of their branches repose the rick- 

 shaw coolies and the hackery bulls with their 

 drivers, all ready to convey their masters and 

 mistresses home when Divine Service is ended. 

 Both men and beasts are admirably quiet, 



