buildings, something like the monks' houses, form the king's
palace. Some of the buildings are very richly carved, and are covered
with gold leaf. Inside one of them I saw great teak pillars, also
covered with gold.

9. The chief building ends in a very lofty spire, with a beautiful metal
umbrella above it. The Burmese used to believe that this spire was in
the very middle of the earth.

10. Another fine building is a high lookout tower. From the top of it
there is a grand view. On one side I saw a hill covered with temples. At
the foot of the hill there were four hundred and fifty of these temples.
There must be thousands of them in and near the city.

11. As I drove to my hotel last night I saw a number of boys playing
Burmese football. They do not take sides, nor do they try to kick goals.
The football is made of basket-work.

12. The boys stand round in a ring, and the game is to keep the ball
from touching the ground. The boys pass the ball from one to the other
by knocking it up with their heads, arms, hands, legs, or toes. Some of
the boys are very clever at this game.

[Illustration: {Boys playing Burmese football}]

13. Burma has many beautiful rivers and some fine mountains. By the side
of the rivers much rice is grown. Away in the north there are grand
forests filled with wild animals. Tigers are often shot within twenty
miles of the old king's palace.

14. Now I have filled my paper, and I must bring this letter to an end.
I hope you are all well and happy. I am leaving Burma tomorrow.--Best
love to you all. FATHER.

* * * * *

18. A LETTER FROM CEYLON.

1. MY DEAR CHILDREN,--A week ago I landed in the beautiful island of
Ceylon. It lies to the south of India. Get mother to show it to you on
the globe.

2. I am still under the British flag, the Union Jack. I can see it
waving from the top of a big building. The people of Ceylon are proud to
call themselves British.

3. I have just been for a ride through the streets of the chief town. I
rode in a rickshaw--that is, a kind of large baby-carriage drawn by a
man. My rickshaw had rubber on its wheels, so we went along very
smoothly and quickly.

[Illustration: {Rickshaw with passenger}]

4. Some of the carts are drawn by little bullocks that trot along as
fast as a pony. I often meet carts with a high cover of thatch. These
carts carry the tea, which grows on the hills, down to the ships in the
harbour.

5.