Death and Grief in Ceylon in the Nineteenth Century: A Case Study on the British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy.

The British Garrison Cemetery is a burial ground for Europeans that is located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Consisting of graves that date from the early to late 19th century, it provides information on the social status and individual identities of the European settlers in the hill country of the island, and also the circumstances of their deaths. The cause of the high mortality rates among infants, children, and young adults there may be related to the lack of medical facilities, cholera epidemics, and the vulnerability of Europeans to tropical diseases. Graves of individuals who belonged to Nonconformist groups, such as Methodists and Presbyterians, are located on the same grounds as the graves of Anglicans. This apparent harmony indicates that the political and religious rivalry that existed between Anglicans and Nonconformists in England was minimal in British colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]