The S.S. Oceana arrived in Colombo, Ceylon. The Clemens party took rooms in the Hotel Bristol for a
one-night stay. (January 13, 1896)

April 3 Friday – Shortly after noon, the Wardha arrived in Colombo, Ceylon. At 9:30 p.m. Sam gave his “At Home” lecture in Public Hall, to what Lorch calls “a highly appreciative but disappointingly small audience,” due to it being Good Friday and with inclement weather [194]. Livy and Clara spent the day sightseeing in Kandy; The Clemenses were guests of Dr. Murray, surgeon, “delightful people & a delightful bungalo” [Ahluwalia 20; Lorch 194].
Sam’s notebook:
One very seldom sees the ocean slick enough to cast reflections, often as we see the reverse stated; but now (noon) nearing Colombo, the vast piles of pink, & leaden & snow-white clouds on the horizon are repeated in detail in the slick & polished surface of the sea [NB 37 TS 24].
(Fears)

April 4 Saturday – At 5:30 in Columbo, Sam gave another “At Home” lecture, probably his No. 2 program. In the evening during a tropical downpour, the Clemens party sailed on the S.S. Wardha for Port Louis, Mauritius [Ahluwalia 20].
(Fears)