HABITS AND CUSTOMS. 
that this result only due to what are called cere- 
monial parties, and that the way to make friends is 
through personal introductions from your ow^n friends. 
Which means,” says Mr. Strange, “which means, 
that if you have no friends at all to introduce you, 
one never -will make friends, so you need not explain 
any further. This is nob the way we do in Ceylon. 
If a man has no friends there, it his own fault, and 
very probably the chances are he deserves none.” “Oh!” 
says his friend, “that is not the custom here. You 
must conform to our habits, you know.” 
The object of the foregoing rambling writing must 
now be explained, as our readers may be saying “ What 
has this to do with the heading of your chapter ?” 
There may be some, we fear few now, who after an 
absence of twenty or thirty years are contemplating a 
visit or retirement to the old country. Let them not 
look forward with too sanguine hopes of enjoyment. 
Recollect we are all more or less the creatures of habit; 
that during their long absence they have slowly but 
surely acquired quite different habits and customs for 
such a length of time that they have almost become 
natural ones. Nor is this all. The habits and customs 
of the old country have also been undergoing a rapid 
change, very different from what they recollect of, 
when they left in “their teens,” in fact the string 
has been lengthening at both ends. Your best plan 
will be to rattle about the country a good deal, and live 
in hotels. This will give you more freedom of in- 
dependent action than living on a visit in other people’s 
houses, where you must not only conform to the habits 
and customs of the country, but the habits and customs 
of the house, and this to an old planter, accustomed 
to a house and establishment of his own, with perfect 
freedom of action, to say the least is not advisable. 
By all means live with your friends, accept their 
invitations, and pay them visits; if you wish to make 
friends this is the way, but have some place of your 
own, where you can retire to when you feel inclined. 
We don’t mean propei ty, but some place that you 
can call a private domicile where you can do as you 
like. 
Of course you must judge of your own pecuniary 
means. But, if it is only a lodging, with parlour 
and dining-room, taken by the week, have a place 
to which you can retire whenever you like. This 
advice is on the understanding that the old planter 
is in good health, and able to go about and take care 
of himself. If not, how thankful he should be, if 
he has any friends or relatives left to welcome him 
home, receive him into their houses, and attend tQ 
his ailments. 
