KANDY IN EARLY PLANTING DAYS, 
cularly wanted, for it used to be just at this ju net ur© 
that shoes always were sure to co me off! 
The best hotel, both in its site and accommodation, was 
was what in later years was started as “ The Doarding 
House,” or David Albert’s,’^ because it was under the 
immediate management of a man so named . As the former 
name implies, it was considered something superior to the 
ordinary run of hotels, and intended to be “ very select.” 
But in those times the ‘Wery select” system did not 
paj, and it was gradually given up. The name and repute, 
however, lasted long after the reality had given way, 
and for a considerable time it was judged “ quite the 
thing” something rather genteel, to put up at the 
Boarding House Hotel. There could not be a better 
site in every way ; situated on the east corner of the 
new road, the back part of the building, behind which 
were the stables and stable yards, might be said to be in 
or connected with the town, arid the front and front 
verandah out of it. For from the front verandah you 
look out upon the grass expanse of the “esplanade” with 
only the road between ; on the left, and just at the 
termination of Trincomalee street, was a small open 
space of ground with a few stunted coconut-trees 
growing on it, behind which was the shop, or rather 
general store, belonging to Mr. James Affleck, at which 
everything could be purchased, from a pound of nails to a 
bottle of champagne, and no immediate payment required. 
All the purchaser had to say was, “Put it down,” and 
the reply would be as prompt,perhaps prompter, “Proud 
and happy to do so,” “ But we have just received a con- 
signment of Bass in very fine condition and the hand 
would move into a mysterious looking cask, standing 
on end, with the top open and some straw sticking out, 
from which it would withdraw a bottle with coloured 
label and tinfoil over its mouth ; then would follow 
the creaking of a corkscrew and the pop of a cork, 
and before you could scarcely realize what all this 
meant a glass of bitter beer would be put into your 
hand, which mechanically reached your mouth 
and disappeared. After this, of course you pronounced 
it very good; of course, you considered yourself bound to 
purchase some, and, of course, it w'as “ down,” as 
you might require something more by and bye. This shop 
or general store amongst the Tamils was known by 
the name of tinkmj maram hadai (the coconut tree 
shop), and it may be — if it is still a shop, or — whether 
or no— is still called so to this day. 
On the right was the road leading out of town towards 
the east, immediately above which is the raised 
embankment of the lake, on the top of which 
are shady trees, and seats here and there. This 
