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pelled to alight, and enter the arrack shops which are scattered along the road, to induce them to proceed; and when my efforts failed, was obliged to act as driver to the whole cavalcade, till they thought proper to relieve me.

The last stage of our tedious journey was commenced early the following day, when we proceeded at a considerably quicker pace than any which had preceded it. The drivers were probably stimulated by the fear of our representing their former behaviour to the Peacecalloonaansey, an officer of considerable authority, one of whom resides in every principal town in Ceylon; and whose displeasure would be severely felt by a cooleykaree, or labourer.

About half-way between Pantura and Colombo we halted for breakfast, and agreed with the tenant of a small hut for some boiling water. I retired behind the trees, for the purpose of making those alterations in my dress which our approach to the principal town rendered necessary. We had scarcely finished our slender meal, when we perceived a carriage approaching us from Colombo: it proved to be Mr. Armour, in his family bandy,* who, with kind regard to our convenience and comfort on entering into Colombo, had set off to meet us. We directed the bandy-drivers to follow with our luggage; and Mr. Lynch, Mrs. Harvard, and myself entered the conveyance furnished by our attentive friend. Passing through Galgisse, (leaving Mount Lavinia, the Governor's delightful residence, on our left,) we entered a road made through the celebrated cinnamon groves in the neighbourhood of Colombo. The reports which we had heard in England of these

A light and commodious caravan, generally on springs; and constructed so as to admit a small family to sit within it.

gardens, and the effects which were said to be produced by the powerful effluvia attributed to the trees, led us to expect that we should, at least, experience some inconvenience when surrounded by such numbers as we now beheld. We were therefore a little surprised that no perceptible effect was produced on our olfactory nerves, though we were in the midst of thousands of trees. But the fact is, the scent is only produced by piercing the leaf, or bruising the bark of the tree; and unless this be done, there is nothing by which the scent can distinguish a grove of cinnamon from a plantation of any other trees.

The approach to Colombo by these gardens is exceedingly pleasant: the trees do not rise higher than seven or eight feet; and when there is any breeze, the waving of the branches produces a coolness which is most refreshing. The road is kept in a state of good repair at a considerable expense; and the gardens, uniting beauty with convenience, furnish the respectable inhabitants of Colombo with most agreeable morning and evening rides.

Quitting the cinnamon gardens, we entered Marandahn, a Mahomedan village in the immediate vicinity of the Colombo Pettah.* A mosque of considerable grandeur meets the eye at the entrance of this village: the road through which is shaded by rows of palm and cotton trees; at intervals the eye rests on the stately jack-tree, which rears its magnificent head above every other, as if to assert its indigenous pretensions to the

• Supposed to be derived from the Singhalese word, Peta; which signifies the outside. Ceylonese towns in the immediate neighbourhood of fortified places are usually thus designated; and being principally occupied by the natives, are in other parts of India called the Black Town. The Ceylon appellation, certainly, seems the most preferable, because the least invidious.

soil. As we passed along this pleasant grove, Mr. Armour directed our attention to a house in which a Mahomedan prophet had professed to fast forty days. To prevent the imputation of imposture, his followers had procured the seal of a magistrate to be affixed to the door, at the commencement of the stipulated period; and at the termination it was broken with great solemnity. As the tiles of the house were merely laid on the roof in the Indian manner, without mortar, or any other cement, it was evident that food might have been conveyed to the inmate with perfect ease, without violating the seal.

A short distance further we passed the residence of the Count Ranzow; a near relative of the consort of our late beloved monarch, George the Third. He has a numerous family of daughters, some of whom are married to respectable young men of the island. He is said to have passed through scenes of varied suffering; but his affinity to the illustrious house of Brunswick cannot fail to procure for him the sympathy of every British heart.

With feelings which it would be difficult to express I entered the Colombo Pettah, the appointed scene of my future missionary labours. A consciousness of inability caused me involuntarily to shrink from the mighty undertaking. But a conviction of duty, and the hope of sufficient aid, united with pity for the deluded votaries of idolatry by whom we were surrounded, kindled an impatience to commence the work which had brought me amongst them.

On arriving at Mr. Armour's residence, which is situated in the Grand Pass,* we were received by Mrs. Armour, a Tutecorene lady, who manifested

The principal road from Colombo to the interior of the island.

much pleasure at our safe arrival. The other members of the family were introduced; and each vied with the rest in expressions of kindness, and in the performance of a thousand little offices, which while they tended to promote our comfort, illustrated the amiableness of their dispositions, and powerfully conciliated our regard.

CHAP. XI.

Interview with Archdeacon Twisleton-Visit from the Chief JusticeSubmission of the Kandyan territory to the British Crown--Audience with His Excellency the Governor-Death of Mr. Ault at Batticaloa-His epitaph-Mr. Lynch preaches his funeral sermon before the Governor-Baptist Mission church-Arrival of Mr. Clough-Village preaching-Singhalese interpreter-Weekly meeting of preachers-Dutch church-Malabar Christians-Purchase of estate-Public subscription-Captain Schneider-Sunday School -Levee-Lady Johnstone-Colombo theatre and Orphan HouseMission printing press-Government press-Day school-Ava priest-Head printer-Illness of the Author-Kindness of the Catholic Missionaries-Journey to Galle-Preaches in an idol tem. ple-Visits the Government schools-The Ava priest embraces Christianity, and is baptized.

THE kind offices of Mr. Armour procured for me, the day after our arrival, an introduction to the Hon. and Rev. T. J. Twisleton; of whose valuable services to our Mission I had heard so much from my companions; and for whom, though a stranger to his person, I felt a strong and grateful attachment. The affability with which he received me, and the interest he evidently felt in the important objects of our Mission, impressed my mind with a reverential regard for this most excellent clergyman; who, unshackled by the prejudices which confine so many within the narrow circle of their own sect, rejoiced at the prospect of a wider spread of the gospel of Christ by our means; and cheerfully wished us success in extending the boundaries of the Redeemer's kingdom.

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