8 ‘ ral mail.
“ “worth living.

CEYLON.

- (continued from page. 10)

“German, Italian, : Sinhalese,

~ Tamil, Greek ‘and’ Latin for him
‘to exercise his linguistic powers. -

‘He. ‘started | to- write his auto-
biography at’ 90.

woStay there was.a constant stream

i . Of “visitors.. who: wished to have
man their: books | autographed..

oe ‘was: interviewed: on: the radio,

had glowing reviews inthe press,

and: received quantities ‘of fan
He. certainly, finds: life

“os My" father’s house is 70 miles
“by. ‘train or car from Colombo.

“The roads were. not built to’
‘cope with traffic: ancient.- and.

| ‘modern: Theyare two-lane high-
“ways used by cars, buses, trucks,’
bullock carts, oil trucks, eleph-

; ants: ‘and. buffaloes, not to: men-
‘ss tion ‘the people swarming. along
So them. I preferred, to: travel by
:train::in the comfort: of the. ob-
- servation’ car. The: forést clad

away.

from many. angles.

-The:» house, ° - “named: eT ree

H

“It: was ‘pub-""

trees and precious soil.
- dished this ‘year, cand: during my.

_entrance.to the house one cross~ -
“es a.small:.bridge. over a” ‘tiny

A ‘He

‘on,

_ peaks . and” rocky. crags stretch.
“inte © ‘the: blue,~-while the ©
train : climbs’ the mountain: pass
enabling. one :to- enjoy ‘the view: :

7 ‘Tops. is built high on the banks.
“of the Mahavelli Ganga, ‘or Great ©.
a ‘Sandy. River: which: is as long~"

UARTERDECK CAFE
VAN. ISLE MARINA: 7

Closing. on December 23 for the Holiday
Season & Re -opening. January 650°

‘est in n Ceylon. Inthe dry sea-.
“son large’ islands of.‘white sand.
“ise in its bed. » Overnight, heavy
rains. turn it into. a raging tor-
rent. ::”
its :banks, :covers..the roofs of
houses or: washes them away with:

tributary. of the river, and fol-
lows. .a: path . up. the-slope,. past
a clump of ‘feathery bamboos,
and on: ‘through shady groves of. .
palms, fruit trees and flowering -

shrubs, along the. rose garden

and. up. the “steps ‘to. the terrace
which the» house. ‘stands.
Through’ the. fronds of coconut
and. areca palms one.sees the
river .flowing below.. I often
stood. onthe. balcony at night to
look “at . the «palms: outlined. in

“black. and ‘silver, by the moon,
and listen to. the endless. mur-

mur of the rapids inthe distance,
Fireflies spangled the. darkness.

like hundreds of Tinkerbells, and
perhaps’: the. throb’ of .tom=- -toms:

“could be heard. or the ‘chant ofa
villager ‘to: his- “buffaloes: as he’
-ploughed his fields’ by the ‘light:

of the moon. Sometimes’ the.

- breeze wafted: pe ihinis from the, --
‘Queen.of : the’: Night’’,

slept bathed i in waves of fragrance
sent by
‘SOMS,

At the -

~ fies.
ne patience : and wisdom) in the man-.,
_.agement of. his little ‘kingdom.
“He settles their quarrels, scolds a
“them when necessary, cares for.
“their. health and praises them for

cand To

its small. white. blos- -

~ English,”

—an .

a~

_SaaNicH PENINSULA AND GULF ISLANDS REVIEW.

. .My father employs nine ser-—
‘vants to look after him and the

Two. men-and'a-woman |
work in~ the garden, there is a:
Sometimes it .overflows .. ’

house. ..

woman who. comes daily to pre-
pare, the curries for lunch, while

‘the’ cook makes the dinner and_

helps in the house.. '-There -is a
“nouseboy and my. ‘father’ s per-

sonal boy, and:a little man who*

walks around at night ‘carrying

an enormous gun,. on the look-.
out for thieves who used to rob
-the- place: of fruit and coconuts. -
or cut down bamboos. There is:
-also.a man who looks after-the-.

chickens; turkeys and guinea fowl.
_and goes. to market three times _

a week... A. dhoby or laundiy-

‘man calls once a:week to collect

the washing which is done by.

; dashing the clothes. on rocks -in
“the river...
There are Christians, Hindus

and. Buddhists “among (them,

“ereating antipathies and jealous’

My father has. to exercise “dinner: through ‘rice fields to a

small thatched mud hut where the ~
entire village Was: gathered: ins
‘Men, women,. infants ~
in ‘arms, boys’ and: girls: waited a
expectantly. in the dim light: shed :
by flickering oil lamps.. :

work. well done:

former.
unately,

“employers,
he was almost stone-

deaf, but he could read and write: -
“great help. A.

dinner’. he first evening, the
cook rushed into the dining room

~verying: that: Siripala, a Sinhalese hs
A boy had ‘‘hammered’! him, and he
©’ Wanted -to leave. L asked’ the boy...

Ng 28 Ee ee a siolaisiaioieie

why, he -had beaten the cook. He

“replied ‘Because his ears don’t ‘i
= hear??.

"veranda: outside, ..

cop hank y fone

‘Buddhism,

owas

“On: the day-l arrived, he ‘had
“engaged a new cook) a Catholic:

Tamil: of. 72 years, of age. who:
had excellent references: from:
Unfort-"

-- home.

ote

The. boy: was ordered ‘to =
“do garden work and ‘anoth sr was 7
eo engaged for indoors. Some weeks oe. ‘Hour: ‘after hour a‘circle of in-.°
~Jater,.-my. ‘afternoon. Siesta: was os :
Y interrupted | by ‘oud voices on. the ©
It. was the old
cook “and: the. boy; : Siripala Who...

na, _ pulled | him from, his bed. and

We of the Salvation Army are rejoic- >

“their many customers for their,
_ Patronage and wish. them ¢ a

| Merry Christmas
and:
Happy New Year

him to go home immediately. My ©

father’s patience was exhausted,
the boy was'‘dismissed and com-—
manded never. to’ show his: face
there. again. The: old cook: is
still there, I am glad. to.say.

‘I should like to tell you a little

- about ‘thé devil-dancing ceremon--.

‘They .take place in: rural.”
‘areas and provide . a source of:
entertainment’ for the villagers...
Folklore holds: that diseases are —
caused by devils and taking. pos-~-
session, : and the ceremony. of.the

ies.

dance. is to appease the devil
and induce him ‘to. .leave the
person.

from place to place. - Some use
masks, although masks were not
work .in the two ceremonies I.
witnessed in the village close to
my father’s-house. oe
‘In-each case a young woman
possessed, neither. would
speak or. eat.
1 -walked.with the servants after

‘the: yard.

It started about nine, and was
still -going on. when 1. staggered
half-asleep~ at five a.m.
There “were three chief dancers, .
cone’ a. vigorous old .man.-with a
‘pushy beard. -They wore white

‘tops with a broad red sash over »
“a full. white shirt with red-bor-
dered flounces.. There were tom- |

tom beaters and a boy who sound-
eda small: silver cymbal. The
dancing: and chanting, the waving
torches, © the.

‘tent® brown faces. -watched - “the
ceremonies. with - Serious . eyes.

cing: in: cou inany friends: here, and on

~Ltis with for veut warmth: that Wwe says

"and “God Bless You"

‘a

M4

a
“their generosity, during the past: yea ur, 4 :
:

oF

i

4

ift

The belief is older than .

and .the rites vary:
velopment

On one occasion

.-Tituals .with a cock,

: to: dance
‘unconscious. : During the interval

when she was revived’ with cold —
good.

stamping. of.
-anklet-clad feet to the accom- -:
; “paniment of exciting ‘rhythms. of
“the tom-tom hour after hour made :

: 2 “onade;
me feel: .dazed:. and hypnotised...

Ds telephones...

EXPANSION OF FIRE FIGHTING
FACILITIES IS UNDER STUDY.

Expansion. of. the facilities of
Central’ Saanich: Volunteer’ Fire -

. Department. is’ likely to be con-

sidered early: in. the new. year -.
following. a survey by. inspectors
of the Fire.Marshal;: Vancouver.
The inquiry was’-made last.
August. at. the request of coun-.
cil’s fire committee, chaired by.
Councillor. Philip Benn, in “con-
sultation. with Fire Chief Don
Facey... It is recognized that
with ‘the present trend. of. de-
in the municipality
there is.a responsibility to make
adequate provision for the pro-
tection of both life and property.
- Fourfold recommendations of
the Fire Marshal’s: report are

; as follows;

(1) To: rovidise modern pump-
er. unit to replace the outdated

-M aple Leaf truck.

-.(2) To’acquire and retain asite :

for..a future satellite. firehall in: ..
. the Brentwood Bay area. 7

23). ‘Provision: should’ be ‘made :
for a constant system of inspect-"
ions’ and fire prevention, espec-
ially if -the National Fire: Code ~

creates in his “Rites of Spring’’.
In’. between’, dancing . there were
the chief
dancer went into. a trance and
was covered with-a sheet, later
he addressed the. devil in a long:
harangue calling on him to depart.
The . girl. was’ “seized: by’ a
muscular young...man. and ‘made.
-- until’: she. fell:

water,” chews of. betel’ leaf were»

“ passed. ‘round or glasses: of lem-*.

while.’ ‘some lit™ ‘cheroots: 7
“water..head.

“approval.
88 to 115- Ibs.
ate the: lower.: levels, °
“two: systems can ‘be. cross. con- ’

and talked: in whispers. ean
“Then, the -drum® began: again
‘slowly and: softly, the girls head:

i “rolled ‘round and ‘round ‘in’ time =.

‘This was -not the: "20th ’ century," to it. and. ‘She. ‘got ‘up and started © :

but. a scene. thousands of. years. to dance’ slowly.and hesitantly.
18: Presently: the young ‘man grasped:

her hands: and’ swung her arms ~~
: vigorously : Up. and: down. ‘moving

with: her. to and. ‘froin the space 2

rubber,.:

slumped : fe oroata! o  Scarcities.: of:

“No. butter till October.’
“Tho tourist: business’ has’ heen:

- hard ‘hit’ by ships. going® round.
aoe the. Cape: of Good: Hope: and not.

‘calling ft Ceylon, Taxation is
heavys. In addition: to ineome
, tax, thorets wealth tax, property:
ta, and = professional
au pay oo dawhed,  Patus tur
ution, “Werg.care

landowners who ha

ive fad, re tow

Medica): Wd mat

“Oppver-or ate tha:

“Cor shirts: ind ‘sarongs for, cloth
ADEs: : ; :
“The: Ceylonese

go short at

wondert

seonery,
“amport’

apples “or

Thay don't
grapes any

eaMgre, but they Can Porgeon mane

other! delectable: trusts." ane
EEG CY LOWS a

2 BUR Prpblains  Whieh are: jbetng
tackled bravely, People: are prom

rew rie lane

rn a “ may take: tt long time,

“noting the installation of a 12-

_ warrant.

Sessa year” “tea has =

aw ndy of the. women
Ae stores. “displayed | notices: “saying

: tax> for.
= qoctors und Jawyers who must al-:

In spite of: the taxe.
“Sul: wealthy:

‘ ee

: ONY, care ds free, “Thelr houses -
“east vorye Hitle, firniture is une
oehe@eossary, thoy, Sleop onthe Noor si:
ton MALS)» £00k, over
chricks: in earthenware pots, bathe:
Sand Washo thor clothes in. the:
village: wells ©
= They need. no heat in their homas:
“RO. barefoot: and own a few suris'

a couple : ot.

“many: hiatarial: ‘things, but they.

have. therr, arts and erafts and: SC ontonnilros.
. ’

smalbecountry with ©

parod to submit to'shortages and)

heease | ‘whey ener Leadie

fe ‘tompting rofrasiinentiy..

tey
- uty With help tram: obraad and"
“thotrown eourare and delormine”
cation, Tam sure they, will succeed,

is to be adopted and to be en-
“forced.

(4) Provision should. be ennde
for. modernization and: enlarge-.
ment of the meeting-recreation-.
al. area of the present firehall.:

The report is not in any way

“eritical of present arrangements.

It is noted. that the appliances:

-‘and ambulance: are manned by

30° volunteer firemen whose at-
tendances ‘at ‘practices: are des-

cribed as very good.-A minimum _f
attendance of nine men. in re-

Sponse to alarms is considered
adequate, a word that is used
.also.in. regard to the records

and references of the cee .

Wednesday, December 20, 1967.

three minutes; east toSaanichton,

Bay, 1.2 minutes; north to North.

Saanich border, 1.5 minutes.
According . to. the standards

quoted by the report, thedistance _
of travel. toa first fire alarm
is ‘ generally accepted: as being
one mile to. principal mercantile .

districts, and four miles to scat-
tered: residential areas. Aliow-

-ing ‘for. the ‘variables in local.

conditions, it is. said. that “the

response -time . to locations. to.’

be protected is of more import-

ance than the distance to be :

travelled. /
Mobile equipment operated by

- pump..

. iginally,

SEASON'S GREETINGS

the Department at this time con~

“Sists of an’ 1963 ‘International,

Hub, with. central mounted cen-:
trifugal pump with 500-gal boost~
er tank; 1952 Chevrolet, carrying:

900 gallon tank and front mounted.
‘pump; 1946.Maple Leaf,carrying _
500 gallon tank andfront mounted
; - All are radio equipped ..

with a shared radio frequency. |

aA
cee

The two latter appliances are.

conversions of commercial. ve-

~hicles, carried: out--by. the De-

‘partment personnel. The Maple
Leaf was a flat deck truck or-
and the Chevrolet a

gravel truck.

ment. .
it is noted. that there dis a
goad reciprocal arrangement

with Sidney and North Saanich
Voiunteer Fire Department, also :
that Saanich. Fire Department ©
“has ¢o-operated. ‘in: certain. ins

_ stances, °°

-Commenting on the availability

/Of:water, the report. first deals

with the municipal water utility,

inch main feeding branch trunks,

‘.and’..a: 500,000.:balancing reser- _
- voir on theeastern slope of Mount §
Newton.. ‘Hydrant distributionis.

fairly. good; pressures and vol-

ume are fairly constant at these ©

points,’’ it is observed. '

in.the area: served ‘by Brent-.. |
' wood Water District,. the instal-.
_ lation of 41 hydrants: at. 1,000-ft... |

Watch ‘us for better things to

‘come in the New Year

intervals. is noted, and the dis- °}-

tribution. is. described as quite - |
The current program ‘to 4

enlarge reservoir capacity: to.
350,000. ‘gallons with-.a 100- “fts
‘is:. mentioned :. ‘with

are. obtainable»
and the:

: The Saanichton fir ehall is: said

sponsive.; ‘viewpoint, | “put? the

on are. ‘Tecognized.,

ember

hospital. Twenty-three memb~

ers and! four visitors were. wel:

comed, hy. the president,: namely:

Mrs. E.. Compton, Mrs. Watts,
Mrs.) mieanpsae and Mrs, Eva ©
Clive.

The: president: als so weleomed

4S. new active members Mrs. A,

Gresswell,
MrseH Gy

Mrs. be bkeudings,
Horth, and Mrs, LR,
Arter norm mal business,
“transi

ae the VP, Mess edith:
" he nest meeting will sia

“Ansa; “patents
t 76° Ay Cadot Saiidron Was ohe

ewer ved “aretha. alrpore oni hurges

days /evoning: last.and attendance .
of parents’ of: they cadets: was?
impressive. : “Numbers attonded .
from. Salt Spring Island, |

“A suocess{ul band display was,

followed by the presentation of

Wings: to Set, Russel) Brown by
Wing: ‘Commander OR. Philip,
WR Cy: commanding: officer. (of:
“thes reeently disbanded Goldon
“Tho latter: pros:
sented an interesting film show-
“ing activities of the aorihatic
tein, 35."

“ARAVIOWINE, ‘ottieor was. sqae.
“drat” Leader’ Thy Thimmond | ‘of
Camo:

applauded by tho visitors.
Mrs. John Bruce : neade
aMasilars Whey

goes bv. the Mae oF ii Ta
een, ae Say CL ;

- Pressures: of from ==.

‘be. ‘fairly. ‘central: from: ‘are=: i

a “an: im=- “

“night, of No.

“in Hone Kanes Santry GaN ‘

pe Dear Friends:

ciations.::

2 eel

Thank you: for another year of pleasant: esSo-” : : >
a May. the ‘Spirit: of Christmas and all |
that it. means bring Joy to your. hearts and. may.

. you’ have a very Ha and _Prosp: ‘New |
~~ nected ° “should” the’ “demand eo —_ ee PY. erous |

limitations: ‘of. its. a¢commodat- Bele

manly to: Rest :
Haven Hospital was held on Dec~. ee
13. inthe lounge of, the, -..

. 2899, - Sth, $

“We have jointly served the Peninsuta
“ for. many years. .

ote
| Management and State

‘SAANICH |

“Presentation of serge i
qo Nt Scand corporis! strpos: Wa:

“i

wm ito

At this joyous ‘season, we extend our...
= “warmest: greetings: to“you, “hoping all

piles ‘is calm, all-is bright as on'that Holy. Night long
“ago. May all the blessings. of Christmas be yours...

ISLAND CRAFT WOODWORKERS
AY Philipchalk & Son.

o: wn our Patrons pay Friends! Nests

2951. BRIDGE ST, VICTORIA.
ac de tatu

SIDNEY |
F REIGHT |
| 385-4881