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The Grand Oriental Hotel,
Colombo, Ceylon.
Feby. 15th, 1907.

Dear Colonel Hecker,

I returned from my trip to the "buried cities" of the island last night and was pleased to find your full letter of January 9th awaiting me.

*****

My trip up country was a rare experience and it was possible to reach every point I wished to viz:- Matale, Dambulla, (Rock Caves) Sigiri (Rock Caves) Pollonaruwa -- (Buried city) Mihintale (Rock shrine) Anuradapura which you know. Our old friend Charles Pevera of Matale furnished horses, wagon and men including cook, the Government gave consent to my use of Bungalows (not like the Rest Houses) and detailed their employees at Sigiri and Pollonaruwa to accompany me --- at the latter place even the District physician went over the whole place with me. The excitement and interest of the journey is too great for a letter but some quiet hour when we are together I will tell you all about it and the impressions it gave to my future and past collecting. Ceylon has changed tremendously since my first visit --- the forests are rapidly disappearing and plantations taking their place. Colombo has more than trebled and everything, as in Cairo, is booming. Hotels jammed full, steamers crowded etc., etc.

The celebration of Saint Valentine's night here last evening was one of the finest outdoor events I have ever seen anywhere. Paris, London, New York could not beat it. I could not get passage to Singapore on the "Prinz Ludwig" as promised by their Agent here, so arranged an hour ago to sail on the Hamburg American steamer on Sunday the 17th inst. She is due Singapore the 24th inst. From there I go right on to Batavia. Java as I draw nearer to it, excites me greatly and I am expecting much. I shall now wire you "Seafight seventeenth to Batavia, Shipyard".

With kindest regards to all,

Yours very sincerely
Charles L. Freer.

Long hand.