Brian Condon: Diary of James Alipius Goold, 1848-1886

Wednesday 7th July. Arrived this afternoon at Point de Galle. Visited the church; it is a plain large building, a poor imitation of Italian architecture; it is cool and well suited to the climate.

Thursday 8th July. After breakfast drove out with the priest, who is a native of the colony. We visited the cinnamon gardens, which did not repay the trouble we had going there. The tree most cultivated here is the cocoanut; it grows luxuriantly near the sea. In Galle there is but one Catholic school, and that is native. The Lutheran Church is common to the Lutherans and Protestants. I visited a Buddhist convent; it is a wretched place.

Saturday 10th July. Left Point de Galle at 1 for Aden.

Sunday 1st August. In Alexandria. Visited the church, which is large, well situated, and adjoining the Bishop's palace, the college of the Christian Brothers, and the convent of the Franciscans. Called on the Bishop, who kindly invited me to rooms in his palace during my short sojourn.

Monday 2nd August. I availed myself of the Bishop's invitation, and removed from the hotel to his palace. The dinner was at 12. After the Ave Maria, which at present is at 7 p.m., the Bishop recited the Rosary, and gave out a meditation in his private chapel.