( 116 ) 
A Atkinson, (brother-in-law of the late Captain 
Bayley), Robt. Atkin and myself. Blyth, the then 
manager of the Galle Face Hotel, boarded the 
steamer and took moit of as off to his hotel, which 
I need hardly add was a dififeient style ot buildine; 
to the present. Next day after brealcfast Allan 
and I walked into the Fort. My head-gear was a 
cloth "sun-hat" puichased at MaUfi; Aliaa's was 
a thick Scotch bonnet with two ribbons dangling 
from its tail end over his shoulders. Luckily, I 
had a covered umbrella, and with the help of this 
keeping close together we managed, well soaked in 
perspiration, to reach Maitltind's shop, where my 
companion had some letters to present. John 
Maitlaud and his Assistants were liighly amused 
at oar walk in this the hottest time of the day, 
rigged out as we were in bead covering. He 
strongly advised us to go in for more suitable 
"topees" in his shop which we prompciy did. From 
there we drove wiin Mr Slorech to his Mills where 
we titfiiied, after which he delivered us over to 
the char£!e of a trustworthy "muttu" with oft 
repeated directions to drive us back to our hotel, 
where we arrived in the early part of the evening 
feeling much bigger men in our new head gears. 
Next day Allan and Walker went upcountry, the 
former to work under Wm. Smith at Mattakelle. 
In June following I was S. D, onBellongala under 
Charles F. Forsyth and in August of same year 
was resident superintendent of Henawelle under 
his brother "Sandy," of whose 'then geoia- 
lity, kind heartedness and hospitality I cherish 
the warmest reminiscences. Hearing from 
Allan that he was on Kottagaloya estate opening 
clearings for Wm. Smith and R V Dunlop, 
theproprietor8,and from Forsythe otits whereabouts 
I started one Sunday morning from Henawelle and 
got to Allan's bungalow about 9 a.m. walking all 
the way. After telling him I must get back the 
same evening he proposed that we go and breakfast 
with our other fellow planter passenger. Walker- 
then on Nanu Oya estate, the bungalow being 
somewhere across the river from Logic. Both estate 
and bungalow were even then lookiug old. I have a 
distinct recollection of the grey bleached weather 
boarding of the latter. I stayed there till 2 or 3 
p.m. Allan accompanied me back as far as Craigie 
ilea and I managed to reach Forsythe's bungalow 
at HoonoocotuaaboutS p. m.— somewhat tired after 
my long walk. A plunge in his spacious oold 
water bath, a good rub down and the better dinner 
on, put me alrit{ht and, after early tea next morn- 
ing I not back to my own "totum."Strangeitis that 
Allan and I did not meet again till 20 years after 
when both of us were much changed. It was at 
Nuwara Eliya where I think he had come up as 
Chairman of Dolosbrige district to attend a P A 
meeting. The only other occasions we did meet 
after were two or three times in Kaudy. He always 
pressed me to go and see him. I promised to do so, 
on the first opportunity, but somehow the difficulty 
of gettin;; to his place and the want of a suitable 
'ghee' when I had the opportunity prevented me 
from affording myself this pleasure which I now 
regret very much. From Kottagaloya, I think he 
must have gone on to Uakwana, and that his next 
billet was Windsor Forest, and last and longest 
G.illainudeaa, He therefore would have had but 
very fe-v berths, and was never, I suspect.a day "on 
the si art"." He was a great favorite of "Elphinstone" 
and I remember how be once extolled him to me 
as a steady, nard-working planter, who manaRed 
admirably for him in the dark days ot coffee. All 
his neighbours of whom I made enquiries, .-ipoke of 
him in the kindest terms dwelliug much on the 
profuse hospitality at his bungilow at Gallamu- 
denui. With all he seems to have been a great 
favourite, as he was on board ship, and I don't sup- 
pose he has left an enemy in the island. 
Indeed, his quiet unassuming manner would 
have uiade it difficult for him to make one even if 
he tried. Of the other Ceylon passengers none are 
now remaining in Ceylon. Walker and Atkins 
left after a short term at coffee planting, an^ 
Atkins has retired as a Government Railway pen- 
sioner. I am the only one left, and in consequence 
— particularly as Allan "has gone over" — I feel that 
I have overstayed my time in Ceylon, but the 
present is not exactly the one for a cardamom pro- 
prietor to retire on a large annual income. Allan 
married the youngest daughter of Mrs. Robertson, 
then of Mount Temple estate, Gampola. The issue 
of his marriage is, I think, only one little girl to 
whom and to her mother I tender my heartiest sym- 
pathy on the death of my oldest and one of my 
kindest and dearest Ceylon friends. R. I. P. — 
Yours, etc. 
P. C. MACMAHON. 
