CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 247 



a cloth of red brocaded silk, with border of 

 orange and green, worn Tamilwise, over a low 

 short-sleeved bodice of red silk shot with 

 yellow. Her hair was dressed in one long 

 thick plait, fastened off with three bell shaped 

 gold ornaments, whilst on the crown of 

 her head she wore a round bossed gokl 

 ornament about three inches in diameter, two 

 similar but smaller discs being fastened on 

 the plait of hair. In addition, she had very 

 handsome side combs, a row of pink garnets 

 with fringes of seed pearls ; also massive gold 

 ear-rings, three nose-rings, the centre one a 

 fine pink garnet — two rosaries of gold beads — 

 several rings, and particularly pretty Indian 

 filagree work bracelets. Over all this grandeur 

 she wore a white tulle veil, just like an English 

 bride, but was kind enough to take it off that I 

 might inspect the jewellery which was shown 

 me with great pride by the aunt, who happily 

 came from Madras, and could speak English. 

 The poor girl herself was quite overwhelmed 

 with shyness and never once lifted up her head 

 or uttered a word. 



The bridegroom, in spite of its being a 

 broiling hot afternoon, wore over his shoulder 

 a thick woollen shawl of the most hideous red 

 and blue plaid conceivable. I am sure no loom 

 in Great Britain could produce such a terrible 

 combination of the two colours, its birthplace 



