From this point to Morotto, it was emphatically a triumphal procession. After walking about three quarters of a mile, the Modliar's eye was gladdened with the sight of a triumphal arch erected opposite his house. Stretching across the road, of an octagonal form, and about thirty-five feet in diameter, with a beautiful ceiling of open net-work, tastefully formed of the ferns and grasses and flowers of the neighbourhood, the arch, profusely decorated with fruits and flowers on its exterior, was unanimously pronounced to be the most elegant thing of the kind ever erected by natives; and it certainly was well worth a trip to Morotto to behold.

The number of people assembled at this point was immense. Far as the eye could range along the road, and around on the adjacent grounds, was one dense mass of humanity; men, women and children, all eagerly straining to catch a glimpse of their honoured countryman and benefactor. The lowest computation gave 5,000 as the number present; but many were of opinion that at least 7,000 was the most correct estimate. Whichever be correct, it was a most gratifying sight, and such a one as it is but seldom the lot of a European to witness in Ceylon. The crush was very great at the front of the house, where Mr. De Soysa's numerous relatives had assembled to meet and welcome him home with all his honors. As the meeting was of the most affectionate and affecting kind, and more than one drew back with moistened eyes, I shall not dwell upon that part of the subject,-suffice it to say, that all seemed over-joyed.

Looking from the Verandah down on the crowd, it was one sea of heads and up-turned eyes. The Act of Appointment was now produced, shewn to all assembled, read first in English and then translated into Singhalese; whereupon one in the crowd made a short speech, and then uprose a loud Hurrah! that would have

done credit to the lungs of a London mob. Now commenced a right joyous carousal. Numerous booths and open bungalows had been erected in the compound, where tables were spread; and well did multitude after multitude do justice to the good things the Modliar had provided. Inside the house a more select company or companies were entertained, consisting of Mohandirams, friends, and acquaintances specially invited. Speeches were made, healths drank, toasts proposed; and while unbounded hilarity had free exercise within, ever and anon a loud hurrah from without gave notice of what was going on there. As soon as one company retired, another took their places, and speedily fresh courses made the laden tables groan again. After dark, fireworks illuminated the gardens, and to a late hour at night the Modliar was occupied in receiving the complimentary visits, and acknowledging the salams, of the throngs who poured into the place in an almost endless stream.

N.

FESTIVITIES AT BAGATELLE, KOLLUPITIYA, IN HONOR OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH,

THE entertainment given to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh by Messrs. Susew and Charles De Soysa was one unprecedented in the annals of Ceylon, and as successful in all its details as it was unprecedented of its kind. As soon as His Excellency the Governor communicated to Messrs. De Soysa His Royal Highness's gracious acceptance of their invitation, they commenced their preparations, and with characteristic energy-(employing daily from 300 to 500 men for several weeks,)-completed all their arrangements in the most satisfactory manner by the morning of the 22nd April, on the evening of which day the entertainment took place.

From Galle Face to Bagatelle, a distance very little short of two miles, both sides of the Kollupitiya road were lined with decorations.

*For the first time in the history of the Island-for not even in the palmiest days of the Sinhalese monarchy, when a liberal and large-minded ruler like Dutugemunu or Prakkramabahu wielded the sceptre, would Royalty so far condescend as to accept of the private hospitalities of a subject--a native has welcomed a Royal guest to his house. The circumstances under which both Ruler and Ruled now live are very much changed; but notwithstanding all the progress and the advancement which the natives of this country have made in Western civilization, 'the divinity that hedges round a throne' is not a mere

These consisted of a framework of upright bambu posts, five and ten feet each in height, alternating at distances of five feet from each other (wider spaces being left for entrances to compounds)and crossed just above the smaller posts by longitudinal bars eighteen inches apart. From the ground to the lower bar rose skeleton arches of a gothic form. The space between the bars was arranged in continuous panels of a diagonal pattern. From the inside of the arched work hung long ribbon-like stripes of fringed cocoanut leaves, while the whole of the framework was wreathed over and ornamented with light green olas,* festoons of which swung between the larger uprights, the tops of which were surmounted with olaformed crowns. At the Galle Face end of the road an elegant triumphant arch with three terminal spires, the central one of which rose to a height of seventy-two feet, was erected; and two similar but perhaps more elaborately decorated arches spanned the road on either side of the gate that opened into the central carriage drive of Bagatelle grounds. Each arch bore suitable inscriptions of welcome. Wild pines and other fruits, with flowers, ferns, and mosses, were added, to give greater effect to the general appearance of the decorations, the whole of which glittered at night not only with innumerable lamps, but with flambeaux in green cocoa-nut

metaphor. It would therefore be impossible for the native mind to overrate the honor which his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has done Mr. De Soysa in accepting the invitation to his Entertainment; while on the other hand it must be matter for sincere congratulation to all classes who can claim Mr. De Soysa for their countryman, that the Island could afford a native who by position and wealth, was pre-eminently qualified to do the hospitalities of the whole race, in his own person."-Examiner, April 23.

*The young and tender leaves of the cocoa and other palms.

husks; while a large body of men in uniforms of red and white, each bearing a blazing torch, lined the road and lighted up the way, the brilliance of which was added to by the illuminations with which almost every mansion on the route shone and sparkled and gave evidence of the loyalty of its occupants.

Bagatelle House* and grounds, with the numerous temporary buildings and corridors leading from one to the other, were ablaze with light, and presented to the eye a picture which realized to the mind the description given by the poet of the encampment of the Princess Lalla Rookh when on her way to Cashmere.

The invitations were issued for 9 o'clock, and by 10 most of the visitors had arrived; and although there must have been an assemblage of upwards of two thousand persons present, yet the arrangements made were so admirable, that although the throng was pretty close at the principal door where His Royal Highness, the Governor, Lady Robinson, and the Queen's House party were to alight, there was no undue squeezing or crowding. "All over the grounds, there were tents, and booths, gaily decorated and brilliantly lighted, in which the various artists who had been gathered from every part of the Island, and even beyond it, were to perform their respective roles. The dancing saloon in rear of the main building was a credit to its designer; for not only was it elegantly decorated and brilliantly lighted, but every attention had been paid to ventilation. The ball-room upstairs, and the private apartments for His Royal Highness, His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, and Lady Robinson, were all tastefully decorated; several handsome pier glasses and mirrors reflected the light from

Since named "ALFRED HOUSE," in honor of the occasion.