ABSTRACT
I GOT to Bed just at sunrising, never more fatigued or dis-gusted with any jaunt in my Life.' An unusual sentencethis, in an official report to the Government of Madras, but in truth John Pybus had been sorely tried. I Sent as ambassador to Randy, he had been summoned for his interview with the King at 11.30 p.m., the usual hour for court receptions. It was a night of steamy heat with a pouring rain; but as Kandyan etiquette required, the ambassador and his escort walked Ihand in hand through a very dirty Road' to the palace. Then followed a long wait, hatless and shoeless, in a Ivery dirty' courtyard, until finally Pybus was admitted to the hall of audience, rainsoaked and perspiring, and I pretty well bemired'.
