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[Page 166]
-edan mosque, then the administrative quarters with a smart Hindu soldier in front on guard; after that we passed a church. Later we crossed a creek or sewer, and then we turned down a street to the gardens, which are very fine ones indeed, and at last reached our goal the Banyan tree. The Banyan tree was not so very imposing, looking very much like a broken down, distorted Currajong, supporting itself on props. In the gardens was what appeared to be a recreation ground
Then we came back by the markets. On either hand were open fruit shops with lots of natives lounging about in front we bought some bananas and all sorts of fruit, they always insist that you taste before buying. Motors, ox carts, rickshaws and trams dashed past each other, at least the motors and trams did the others perspired mostly and did a long way in a long time. The natives 'tice the little humbacked oxen along by screwing his tail. They are strong these same little oxen. There were beggars on the street corner, little native girls chased the elusive head louse in each others heads, and in the open barbers shops you could see the barber at work shaveing the head of his victim. Naked kids were standing about. The streets were thronged with people of all classes. But in Colombo there seemed to be 2 main classes, upper and lower. The upper classes wear very clean clothing, spotless in fact, and some, European clothing; have a well-to-do appearance, seem jovial and are I believe well educated. The lower classes are like the dirtiest European classes, some better, some worse, and are little better than slaves. Both upper and lower classes are fond of gaudy clothing. The Hindu is featured like a European except for a mongolian taint in some and a semetic caste in others. Their color ranges