How Obedient were we Servants……..

My daughter now reading for her masters in Saskatoon Canada qualified for her Post Graduate at the University of Nebraska Lincoln….and  had to write an introduction to her new professor. The letter was done and forwarded to her present supervisor Dr. Sheila Schmutz for clearance. Sheila’s comments were …. if she was the professor , she would not select her as the candidate. The reason being ……one need not to be  suppliant when she has the qualification and an opportunity available.

This said another letter was done in a different tone which was accepted ………..the comment this time………….. “ Now you sound a North American”……………

The reason for this is non other, but the way we were taught to write letters in school. This too was due to the education system that the colonial rulers established in order to produce the type of person needed to follow up with the administration that ran these colonies.

A sheer example of this type of letter writing came across at the newly restored  Hambantota  rest house.

An old document written out as a farewell letter to a superior officer is displayed as an archive for all to see? And reads as below……………….

 

 

William Richard Wilmot Morgan Esq AMICE

The Provincial Engineer

Southern Province Galle Ceylon

Sir

On the eve of your departure from our midst on leave, preparatory to retirement We, members of the Public Works Department stationed at Hambantota beg to offer your honour our respect and best wishes for a pleasant voyage, and many years of prosperity and happiness in the land where you have decided to apend the years of your retirement.

It is with very great regret that we have to bid your honour FAREWELL, and words fail us to express our deep gratitude and thankfulness to your honour for the sympathetic interest you have evinced on our behalf. You have always been kind and impartial towards us and at your hands we have experienced justice tempered with Mercy.

We esteem it a very great honour to have had the privilege of serving under you.

In conclusion we assure your honour and bid you farewell with a very heavy heart and that you and your family will always be remembered by us in the years to come with respect and reverence.

We remain Sir

Your most obedient servants

Sgd

District Engineer Hambantota

Clerks N Seenitamby D U Leanage S U M Ibrahim Head overseer W Sinnatamby Factory Apprentice E S Abeysekera

Contractors C S W Edirisuriya W P J de Silva [Maha vidane] D J Amerasinghe P Podi Singno G M Dianeris A A Casim A Kandiah

Overseers D S Amerasinghe [Overseer Arachchi] P Amerasinghe N Kanapathipillai A Upasakappu E A Marshall P Baronis P D M Samarawickrame H de Saram D D Kulathunghe

E A Francis O Thajudeen S Palawasam K Rengasamy S M Jhon A K Ameth Sub Overseers A Thasim S P Deen T M Carolis

A Drunken Piper in my Garden

Just nearing 60 my sight needs +2.75 enhancement but for my hearing is still sharp.

Saturday mornings are usually lazy and while still in bed I hear a very humanistic whistle out in the garden……the notes keep repeating as if the performer is lost for the last note.

My sharp hearing and my inbuilt bird vocal memory bank  tells me of a very unusual visitor in my home garden.

We have a new feathered friend out there…….. An excellent Piper but a very drunken one.

White-browed Fantail – Drunken Piper

The White–browed Fantail is so named for its behavior in catching flying insects on the wing. This graceful bird is fearless of man and perpetually show off its elevated tail made into a beautiful fan and drooping its wings while spinning about in the most awkward angular gyrations that only a drunken human would be able to perform. It’s got a very human sounding whistle with about seven to eight notes forming a charming tune that is very often left unfinished.

The specialty of it is that it visiting my home garden in Galle, and this is the very first time that this bird is recorded over here.

G M Heny in his book ‘A guide to the Birds of Ceylon’ narrates of it being very common in most parts of Uva Province up to 5000 feet and in the Eastern Province while also in localized spots in the Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

In the south it is noted in the drier eastern parts of the Southern Province. Galle located in the most western part of the Southern Province and the wettest for that, hints of its migratory behavior when conditions are right.

This period over here in Galle is the wettest months when the South-East Monsoon is most active. This year though the monsoon has failed and dry weather prevails. The regular migratory fly-catchers….. the Indian Paradise and the Asian Brown has already left for home grounds in India in late April….. and the larder of insects seem to be going a begging with the rains not in this year.

Opportunity makes a thief they say…………like wise it could be that the White-browed Fantail is also making this westerly migration when the conditions are right.

I will keep my eyes and ears open during the next failed monsoon to see if he comes back one more time proving his migratory habit.