Sunday, the building was lavishly decorated with palms and
flowers. The service was well performed, and the singing was
excellent. The sparrows flew in and out by the open doors and windows.
One of the birds was building a nest in a corner, and during the
service she added to it a marabout feather, a scrap of lace, and an
end of pink riband. It will be a curious nest when finished, if she
adds at this rate to her miscellaneous collection.

After church we walked to the Government House. Sir William Gregory
is, unfortunately for us, away in Australia, and will not return till
just after our departure. The entrance to it was gay with gorgeous
scarlet lilies, brought over by some former Governor from South
America. It is a very fine house, but unfinished. We wandered through
the 'banquet halls deserted,' and then sat a little while in the broad
cool airy verandah looking into the beautiful garden and on to the
mountain beyond.

At half-past eleven it was time to leave this delightfully cool
retired spot, and to drive to a very pleasant luncheon, served on a
polished round walnut-wood table, without any tablecloth, a novel and
pretty plan in so hot a climate. As soon as it became sufficiently
cool we went on round the upper lake and to the hills above, whence we
looked down upon Kandy, one of the most charmingly placed cities in
the world. As we came back we stopped for a few minutes at the Court,
a very fair specimen of florid Hindoo architecture, where the judges
sit, and justice of all kinds is administered, and where the Prince of
Wales held the installation of the Order of St. Michael and St. George
during his visit. We also looked in at some of the bazaars, to examine
the brass chatties and straw-work. Then came another delicious rest in
the verandah among the flowers until it was time for dinner. Such
flowers as they are! The Cape jessamines are in full beauty just now,
and our host breaks off for us great branches laden with the fragrant
bloom.

_Monday, April 2nd_.--Before breakfast I took a stroll all round the
place, with our host, to look at his numerous pets, which include
spotted deer, monkeys, and all sorts of other creatures. We also went
to the stables, and saw first the horses, and the horsekeepers with
their pretty Indian wives and children. Then we wandered down to the
bamboo-fringed shores of the river, which rises in the mountains here,
and flows right through the island to Trincomalee.

At eleven