Constance Frederica Gordon Cumming (1837-1924)

'... somewhat off the beaten track are the tombs of the Kandyan queens – not beautiful in themselves ... but ... glorified by the surrounding foliage. The red-tiled double roof, shaded by luxuriant palms loaded with nuts and blossom, each crown a study in green and gold and brown; gnarled old temple-trees filling the air with fragrance; and yellow-robed priests laying offerings of yellow flowers before small dome-shaped relic-shrines, beneath huge Bo-trees with spiritual-looking white stems and light foliage, which ... quivers ceaselessly even when there is scarcely a perceptible breath of air.' (Ibid, pp.247-8).