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27 February 1906 — Kandy | |
Tuesday. 27th [February 1906]. Sir Charles sent us his peon or messenger at 7.30 who speaks English to show us round the place. He took us for a walk through the town & to see a small Dagoba wh was closed & had nothing very remarkable about it. After strolling abt we went back to the hotel to breakfast & then at 9.30 set out again to the big Dagoba to see the people making their morning offerings– Here this is done only between 9.30 & 10.30—at the Temple of the Tooth. It is a very small place & there were not very many people at their prayers. We stood at the side & saw them prostrate themselves & the priest divided out the things according to their kind. We also went to other small shrines & at one saw two young women offering also to their mother rices. She bent down & touched them on the head & shouting as tho’ in blessing them. We were told that after the offering to the priest it is the custom for children to offer to their parents. Went in to the library where are curious MSS. When we were pursued by a monk asking for backshish. I told him I knew he was not a good monk—as it is against the rules that a monk or priest should ask for money whereat he looked rather sheepish. Evidently the Buddhist religion is much debased here—as the temples are only open for a short time morning & evening & money is asked for at every turn. The view from the balcony outside the library overlooking Kandy & the lake is fine– From the Dagoba we went to the jeweller Casso Lebbe where I bought some Ceylon stones to sell again in favor of the Venice Hospital– Then at 11.30 we went to the Audience Hall where the Chief Justice Sir Charles Layard was sitting on a case. He sent for us to sit on the bench by him & we were introduced by a back door on to a high platform wh he was sitting clothed in a red robe– Behind him was hung up the sword & mace wh denoted his office. I felt rather shy at the prominent position in wh I was placed—but soon became much interested in the trial going on wh was against a native accused of having broken the leg of his sister in law by using a big stick in a family squabble. One of the witnesses in the case was a native—naked to the waist with a red hat on his head. An interpreter stood below him & very glibly interpreted the questions & answered. Then the Dr was examined & then the accused. He was sworn in by the interpreter & stood with both hands laid together up to his face. He was quite brown—naked to his waist & his hair sleek & plainly smoothed back into a knob on his neck. His story was confused & his statements evidently lies. It was amusing to see how he glanced furtively at the Ch. Justice to see if he believed what he was saying. After his examination was over his wife was called & it was curious to see the painful look of anxiety on the face of the accused lest she should betray him. Very little was got out of her as she observed an indifference wh was curious. “I do not know” being her chief answer– At some of the answers of the accused (one being to admit that he had been drinking when the fight took place) there was a general titter from all in Court—Judge & Jury (who were 7 in no.). This seemed to give the prisoner hope– But the lawyer who defended him had a very lame case—& the Judge evidently directed the Jury to give a verdict of Guilty wh they did after an absence of 10 minutes. The Judge sentenced the accused to 5 year’s prison & the man was removed apparently unmoved. The case being over we took leave & returned to the hotel. The Audience Hall is a fine place being open on all sides & the roof merely raised on teak columns which are intricately carved in the style of the country at their upper parts– This chamber the only part left of the old Palace of the King of Kandy & has been used long as Courts of Justice. We got back to the hotel just in time for luncheon & afterwards we took a victoria & drove to the gardens of Peradeniya which is a lovely place. We had a letter of introduction to the curator—but found he was absent. An underling saw us & very kindly told us what to go to see– The flowers are nothing very particular but the trees are very fine. The giant bamboos most astonishing. Some had flying foxes hanging from their uppermost branches. We could just make them out as they hung head downwards every now & then moving their wings. We went to the orchid house—& found very few in flower. We went to one end of the garden where there were elephants at work helping to build a bridge over the river. The great beast was carrying up heavy loads of wood suspended to his mouth & the interesting thing was to see the clever way he crept down a very precipitous bank of earth. Got back to Kandy just before dark. A heavy thundershower came on wh cooled the air. Sir C. Layard looked in to bid us goodbye as he was leaving for Colombo. | |
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