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254

The Snake.
Thursday. Feb. 3    
[[strikethrough]] September 10 [[/strikethrough]]

on the pier - with all aboard looking on. The boat was gaily lighted, hung with flags - ceilings decorated with flags as well. Sir Charles & Lady Lambe greeted everyone with a handshake & How do you do - with his staff lined up saluting everyone who came aboard & those who left. (Very impressive - all this formality.

Sally San Lin had a wonderful dinner in their garden on the lake. Union Bank, all finance people - mostly Burmese, were present. Lavishly catered. enjoyable. Highlight of the evening. I saw my first snake, right near our table - fully three feet long. Louis called a house boy, who seized a tree branch & killed it. Imagination is always stronger than reality & in this case, as well. Seeing the snake acting in front of us was nothing at all. If I had heard the story or read of it I am sure I would have shuddered, to see it lying in a pool of light it was a natural part of the landscape & had a beauty of its own.


255

Ceylon Independence Day ) Friday Feb. 4  
Roger Pierard 
[[strikethrough]] September 11 [[/strikethrough]]

AM - Dorothy's portrait & children. Resumed after lunch - 4 PM- art shop for stretcher. John Lee was very nice - refused to let me pay him for redoing it. claiming it was his fault. Picked up 5 copies of The Guardian with article by U Hla Shain "The Middle Way - about our talks with photographs. 

6.30 - To Mr. Mrs. A.C. Goonesinba - Minister for Ceylon. Cocktails to celebrate their Independence Day.

Festive ceremony - with lighting of candles (wicker lights in brass pedestal topped with a bird figure) while Natl.' anthem was sung - followed by a toast to the health of Queen Elizabeth. Color motion picture of Ceylon. followed. which was simply beautiful - the native dancers, superb (male dancers, better than the female). The music rythmic & exciting.

8.45 - Home again to dinner with Baird Helfright, Roger Pierard of the Agence France Presse