Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/130

 and to Ceylon he always returned with the greatest enjoyment. The exquisite beauty of the island was a favourite theme of his. He felt it an injustice that the gentle brown creatures who ministered in so excellent a fashion to one's comfort should be described in the well-known hymn as "vile."

On his last visit to the Island, H. H. and his daughter lunched at Government House with the newly appointed Governor, Sir Robert Chalmers, who had invited an interesting party to meet them. After luncheon Sir Robert showed them a beautiful banyan-tree in the garden. The banyan-tree throws out downward shoots from its spreading branches, which take root in the ground and support the parent tree in its old age. Sir Robert told his guests that this was always shown to little Cingalese children as an example for them to follow.

They returned on board with great armfuls of exquisite smelling temple - flowers, and masses of scarlet blossom from the gardens of Government House.

On this last visit, H. H. greatly missed his friend, Sir Hugh Clifford, who after distinguished services in Ceylon had been transferred as Governor of the Gold Coast. Some time before H. H. had had the pleasure of meeting Lady Clifford, formerly Mrs Henry de la Pasture, and always spoke regretfully of so much brilliance and charm being lost to England.

It has not been possible to enumerate the many voyages H. H. made backwards and forwards to Australia; but after the trip just mentioned he received a letter of congratulation from Joseph Chamberlain: