The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-14

philistines. and travellng folk. He oWned. that the government archaeo- logist had nothing in reserve to match or outdo Sigiri. no other such adventur- eus proceeding, such ground and lofty climbing to trap one into when in search of royal and religious ruins; and that. while all this buried plain is full | of ruins. there is nothing that will ever rival Sigiu in sensational interest, nothing to match it for picturesque. ' interest, nothing to match it for pie turesquo history. while as literary Landmark it has value and associations second only to the Alu Vihara.
 On the west face of the rock over hanging the long gallery defended by the high ehunam parapet. there is a series Of caves or pockets in the rocks. iwhose smooth surface was once covered with a long series of frescoes. The queens. with attendant princesses and women of King Kasyapa's court, are shown in procession on their way to some temple, each carvings flower offerings.
 This picture gallery is in it's way quite the most remarkable thing at Sig i fri, and the execution points to an art development one can hardly credit to that early century in Ceylon.
 From the gallery below one can only catch glimpes of figure or a head here and there. From the plain below the paintings are not distinguishable at all, and how they were put there.and why topo iS fo f11llChe of a feat to climb a straight ladder in air, istaighter than the ratlines to a ships mast. and stand on airy scantlings and skeleton bracket shelves to see these frescoes in their entirely, when there are most faithful copies in pastel and oils to be seen at ones ease in the Col lombo museum.
 When one does see that line of grace full female figures, done in the simplest eolors, with strong touches of black and white, all softened and toned to an ex- Iqulsito harmony, there is no need to wonder who were the artists of that day. Puvis de Chavannes did it in an earlier incarnation when he was first on earth and art was pure and fresh, and young.
 The sun of noon was hot when we finally came down from the enchanted lrock and had time and the unoecupied mind to put upon base bodily interests. And all the long afternoon the palm trees rustled in Q fresh breeze, while the sun beat straight on Sigiri, set be- fore us like lighthouse far at sea-an Eiffel height in the wilderness.
 How we wanted to say op and watch l the daylight die, and the sunset flush give way to moonlight over the great rock tower. but Sigiri's two rooms were bespcken for that night, our own rooms were waiting at Dambool, and the driv- l CT was anxious to start and get through 3the jungle and out to the conventional post road and his world asin before the daylight fell. Moonlight drives did not lappeal to him, and regretfully we left the little rest-house on the farthest ledge of. the wilderness and went into the jungle's clear shade for the beauti- ful drive.
 1 The little Tamil horse boy ran feet footed ahead of the ponies, his white icoat and brilliant red turban end flash Iins among the green like some huge bird. When we asked if he, too, had climbed to the top of the rock his eyes flashed and he made voluble answer in Tamil, which the driver slowly ehanted lin interpretations
 Yes. He has climbed up to the top land he has been winded, he was climb- ling so fast. The get-downing was bad, but he been prayed and been saved, 1 Yes, the get-downing is bad'
 Did you pray?'
 "No. I am too old. It did not need, '
 We passed little blackened dagoba set beside the Trincomalie road and asked it's meaning.
 70. some man has been died there '' said the driver of English as she is spoke See" he said soon after while the ponies were given breathing spell lon the causeway across the old tank, there is a curious fishing rod. It is like 8 snake"
 ] The lone fisherman, holding a pole and line by the bank. laid them down to bait the end of crooked stick stuck in the end of bamboo. and pushing it twenty feet out over the surface of the sunset dyed water, sat down to his hotel chewing and patient wait for his supper.
 When he shall have some good fish caught he good curry will maker" and the mind ran on in Oliendorffian sem tences inumerable, as we drove on in the half twilight, half moonlight of the Ibroad post road that led back toward the world of war news and political en- lthusiast1 in dinner coats.-Eliza R. lSkidmore in Chicago Tribune.