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64 MÆT LANKA

The guards watched day and night without sleep,
Fearing that the whales, the water snakes, the Næga and the crocodiles
Would come to strike the ship and make it capsize. The hazard was omnipresent.
They paid attention to everything, to keep us safe. (Verse 92)

After asking the passengers to line up, the physician on duty took their pulses to
see if they were sick. Apparently, everything was alright.

The Captain told us that we had arrived.
Each of us was happy and delighted.
It was the thirteenth day of the waxing moon, at seven o’ clock.

The ship entered the territorial waters of Colombo. (Verse 95)

Once arrived at their destination, the monks had to comply with the usual for-
malities and answer questions of the agents of the immigration officials and the customs
officers who, most of the time, show themselves to be suspicious and punctilious.

When the anchor was cast, the siren was heard.
Small boats joined us and took us to the quay.
To the many questions which were asked of us,
We replied through the interpreter and showed our papers. (Verse 96)

As the monks were native of a country famous for its rubies, it was not surprising
that they were being asked if they had brought with them valuables, which were heavily
taxed.

Our paper indicated that we came on the Continent.
The authorities in Colombo made numerous checks,
Saying that gems worth more than one hundred [rupees]
Were imposed a tax. (Verse 97)

In ancient travelogues, it was often said that the passengers were carefully searched
by the customs officers. For their part, the monks noticed, not without surprise, that the
most ordinary objects were also subjected to customs duty.

Everything was taxed.
The rate was twelve percent,
Even for personal effects, as matches and joss sticks.
Such were the regulations. (Verse 98)

After a lot of hassle, the monks were relieved to quit the port and to follow their
road. Everything was new to them and the memories of their homeland tortured their
minds. They consoled themselves by saying they must have had good Karma to be able
to come as far as Lanka.