CHEERS FOR PRINCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1922, Page 5

CHEERS FOR PRINCE.

CEYLON’S SPLENDID WELCOME. WONDERFUL TRIP TO KANDY. By Telegraph.—Press Aasn.—-Copyright. Delhi. March 23 The Prince of Wales had a wonderful journey from Colombo to Kandy. During the morning the entire population of the district for fifteen miles on each side of the railway gathered at the wayside stations to see his special pass. It was like popular demonstrations in Australasia and Canada. There were solid masses of Cingalese in deep rows at every station platform and on the banks, rocks, and trees between them. They went to extraordinary pains to decorate *his seventy-mile route from the coast. Even single mud huts displayed a Union Jack, and every tiny village under the palms showed its loyalty. Bamboo arches or garlands were strung between the trees. For 3$ hours the. Prince passed what appeared to be an almost continuous crowd, beginning in Colombo, continuing along the rice fields of the plains, and then clinging in thin lines to the steep sides of the hills, where the special began to climb into cooler air, 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 handclapping. Some stations contributed groups of industrious drummers banging tom-toms. The Prince was received at the station by the Kandy chiefs in picturesque full dress, balloon-like skirts and heavy silk jewelled hats.