80 
VILLAGE OF WAAI. 
divided by perfectly straight streets. The gar- 
dens open into these streets, which are lined with 
overarching trees, and margined by ditches edged 
with pink crocus-like plants. The credit of this 
is in a measure due to the efforts of the people, 
but luxuriant nature does much. With hand-to- 
hand work and sympathetic treatment, Waai 
might be a garden of romance. I like to be 
astir early, to meet the inhabitants wending 
under the grand avenues towards the stream : 
with the intermingling colours of the garments 
of the loitering water-carriers and the soft lights, 
the scene is somewhat Italian-like. 
The stream comes fresh from the mountains, 
cool and sparkling, and is met in the village by 
a shallow pond, above which "water for domestic 
use is taken, and in which the villagers bathe 
and wash. In the centre of the pond is an 
enclosure with house attached. This is the 
Rajah’s bathing-place, and its use is permitted 
to us— a delightful luxury. 
In the pond the children disport themselves 
like fishes ; mites who can just run can swim 
and enjoy the fun like the others. The elders 
make the bath more of a business, and I must 
say I have considerable respect for their cleanli- 
ness. They use a stone in lieu of soap, carefully 
