THE PRINCE IN INDIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18513, 25 March 1922, Page 9

THE PRINCE IN INDIA

JOURNEY TO KANDY. THE CEYLONESE LOYALTY. REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATIONS. Pros* Association—By Tomograph—Copyright. DELHI, March 23. The Prince had a wonderful journey from Colombo to Kandy. During the morning the entire population of this district, for 15 miles on each side of the railway, gathered at t|ie way stations to see his special train pass. It was like the popular demonstrations in Australia and Canada. There wore solid masses of Ceylonese in deep rows at every station platform, and on the banks, rocks, and trees between them. They went to extraordinary pains to decorate his 70-mile route from the coast. Even single mudhuts displayed a Union Jack. Every tiny village under the palms showed its loyalty. Bamboo arches or garlands were strung between the trees. For three and a-half hours the Prince passed what appeared to be an almost continuous crowd, beginning in Colombo and continuing along the rice fields of the plain, tnen clinging in thin lines to the steen sides of the hills, where the train began to climb into cooler air, and swelling again in numbers as the train approached this pleasant little city. The absolute spontaneity of the reception was unmistakable. The people cheered like Europeans or saluted the Prince with precise volleys of hand-clap-ping. Some stations contributed groups of industrious drummers banging tomtoms. The Prince was received at the station by the Kandy chiefs in picturesque full dress. They wore balloon-like skirts and heavy silk jewelled hats. —A. and N.Z. Cable.