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70 MÆT LANKA

The villagers claimed that the sun
Picked the sea water to wash its face
Before returning to the sky. This legend was told to us.
« True or not, I know nothing about it. Do not say I am the storyteller.» (Verse 153)

Having visited the holy mountain, the monks went to other places like the
Library containing the scriptures, The Bodhi tree growing in the middle of a lake and
the ancient capital of the island, always with the coach that the governor had made
available to them.

The route was not short at all.
By car, it was 80 miles.
« Formerly, the capital was called Anuradha[pura]
And its Cetiya was covered with gold. » That it was told to us. (Verse 162)

The pilgrimage continued with a visit to the Jetavana Stupa, the temple of Abhya
Giri, the Dambulla cave monastery and the great Cetiya of Thuparama. After that it was
the return to Colombo where the venerable monks made their farewells to the governor.
The formalities for return were as compelling as the first time. While waiting to receive
their papers, they visited the zoo to see all kinds of animals. Bones of whales and giant
fish which were exposed there amazed them a lot. The great day of homecoming finally
rang :

We took our belongings with joy and boarded the coach.
We left Colombo to go home.
Arriving at the seaside, we saw the ship,
And we raised our hands above our heads before embarking. (Verse 176)

The dial showed ten o’ clock.
It was the fifth day of the waxing moon. We were at the stern of the vessel.
We saw bands of Næga and a big fish measuring twenty fathoms,
It swam quietly and its back was as big as a hill. (Verse 177)

In the night, a heavy rain began to fall.
Mouth wide open, numb with fright, some of us were screaming and crying
Since clouds and wind had created big waves
Of dark, black, orange and yellow colours, which hardly hit the ship. (Verse 178)

On a rainy night, the mood was grim.
We could not gaze upon the moon and the stars hidden by clouds.
Not to mention that the waves violently striking the ship.
Our clothes were all wet. Unable to sleep, we sat, hands folding knees. (Verse 179)