File:Two happy years in Ceylon (1901) (14803764463).jpg

Identifier: twohappyyearsinc00gord (find matches)
Title: Two happy years in Ceylon
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Gordon Cumming, C. F. (Constance Frederica), 1837-1924
Subjects: Sri Lanka -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : Chatto & Windus
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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, hung withrich draperies and curtains which could be drawn at will, and there,on a slightly raised platform, were grouped a phalanx of brown-shouldered yellow-robed priests of all sizes and ages, from those whomight have been grey-headed had they not been so closely shaven,down to quite small boys. With them stood the great laymenassociated with them in the charge of the temple and its property,all in the rich dresses of Kandyan nobles, with the large-sleevedjacket and jewelled hat. The greatest of them was dressed in thesame style, but his clothes were white and gold. All these were grouped around a temporary altar—really a silvertable supposed to represent a lake on which the golden lotus floats.Thereon stood an octagonal cupola of solid silver and gold, supportedby slender pillars. In front of this were three miniature crystaldagobas or bell-shaped relic shrines, each resting on a square base,and two golden candlesticks with lighted candles. In the small THE WORSHIPFUL TOOTH 207
Text Appearing After Image:
2o8 T1I() HAPPY VPIARS IX CEYLON dagobas on cither side were displayed priceless jewelled objects—royal gifts. But all eyes were riveted on the central shrine, of purest crystal,within which lay a large golden lotus-blossom, from the heart of which,upheld by a twist of gold wire, was upraised the worshipful piece ofyellow ivory which, to the unquestioning eye of faith, actually passesfor a human tooth ! I can only say that it is well in keeping with the gigantic footprinton the summit of Adams Peak, being nearly two inches long and asthick as my first finger. On previous page is an exact portrait of it,which I secured by returning in the stream of pilgrims day after day, andmaking a pencil sketch the next moment on a scrap of paper in thepalm of my hand, to be corrected again and again till it was perfectlyaccurate. For to be caught attempting to make a picture of it wouldbe the direst offence in the eyes of the priests. Not many yearsbefore, the Emperor of Siam had sent large offer

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