234 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



and elegantly decorated. In these, during the 

 early part of the day, I saw a number of priests 

 being hospitably fed, with large plates of what 

 appeared to me to be a mixture of native cakes, 

 rice and plantains ; later on, the precious casket 

 took their place. 



It is in the shape of a Burmese Pagoda, and 

 at the top is a ruby worth Rs2000 (^140). 

 The body of the casket is of gold, in which 

 some very precious gems, and numbers of 

 lesser value are encrusted. 



This costly object is surmounted by a canopy 

 of silver also inlaid with precious stones which 

 many people think more beautiful than the 

 casket itself. 



Two smaller gold shrines, already in the 

 possession of the Temple were also exhibited, 

 but I was disappointed in these, for although 

 they were about two and a half and three feet 

 in height with six rows of gems encircling each, 

 they were so dirty and the gold so tarnished, 

 that the whole thing looked tawdry, and it was 

 very difficult to realise that the large square cut 

 jewels were not shams. 



After visiting the band-stand I proceeded 

 with a friend to the Temple itself, to view the 

 Tooth. The crowd outside was immense, but 

 when once the portals were passed, and the 

 moat crossed, good order, and a clear pathway, 

 were kept by a detachment of Ceylon Police, 



