lation is Singhalese, with
whom are seen mingled Arabs, Javanese, Afghans, Kaffirs, and Syrian
Jews, these last with their hair in ringlets like young school-girls.
The subjugated appearance of the common people is disagreeably apparent.
In Japan, the submissiveness and humility of the population is
voluntary, for they are a free and independent race after all; but here
the natives are the merest slaves, realizing their humble status only
too plainly. They call all white people "master" when addressing them:
"Yes, master," or "No, master," "Will master have this or that?" They
would not dare to resent it if they were knocked down by a white man.
The English government provides means for the education of the rising
generation in the form of free schools; and the English language is very
generally spoken by the common people. This is wise, for even in her
colonial possessions she must multiply schools, or prisons will multiply
themselves.

The police arrangements of Colombo are excellent. Notwithstanding the
singular variety of nationalities, one sees no outbreaks; there is no
visible impropriety of conduct, no contention or intoxication, quiet and
repose reign everywhere. Though the ancient Pettah, or Black Town,
inhabited solely by the natives, is not a very attractive place to
visit, and though it is characterized by dirt and squalor, still it is
quiet and orderly, presenting many objects of interest as illustrating
the domestic life of the Singhalese. The same indolence and want of
physical energy is observable among them as was noted in the Malays at
Penang and Singapore. Man is but a plant of a higher order. In the
tropics he is born of fruitful stock and of delicate fibre; in the north
his nature partakes of the hardihood of the oak and cedar. The
thermometer indicated about 90 deg. in the shade during the week we
remained at Ceylon, rendering it absolutely necessary to avoid the sun.
Only the thinnest of clothing is bearable, and one half envied the nudity
of the natives who could be no more thinly clad unless they took off
their bronzed skins.

We made our home in Colombo at the Grand Oriental Hotel, kept by an
Englishman. The servants were natives, but well-trained, and all spoke
English. Each wore a white turban and a single white cotton garment,
cut like a gentleman's dressing-gown, extending below the knee, and
confined at the waist by a sash, thus being decently clothed. It was
curious to sit on the piazza