248 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



must have been Germany. Later when I saw 

 him for a moment without the ladies, I asked 

 him if he did not find it very hot ; " Oh yes, 

 lady, it is very hot, but I must wear it ; it is 

 part of my wedding dress." A very incongruous 

 part, I thought to myself, for the rest was a 

 pretty white muslin cloth with narrow border of 

 crimson and gold, a white linen jacket, and 

 sapphire blue velvet cap embroidered with 

 silver. 



Unfortunately Rob was at work on the 

 Estate, and so the whole burden of entertain- 

 ment fell upon me ; and greatly at a loss I was 

 to know what to do. I gave a santhosem 

 (present), took them into the drawing-room and 

 showed them pictures of England, which 

 seemed to interest, gave them cakes, and 

 finally made a bouquet for the bride. I picked 

 roses, but the aunt came running after me, to 

 say that chrysanthemums were what the 

 Tamils prized most. At last I made an 

 excuse that I must write letters, and dismissed 

 them to the kitchen regions to have a cup of 

 tea, where by this time the kitchen coolie had 

 made two enormous wreaths of Bongainvillea, 

 which he insisted upon their wearing round 

 their necks. At last Rob returned to the 

 bungalow, and soon afterwards the party 

 pursued their onward way to the girl's home, 

 where a wedding feast was prepared for twenty 



