dreds of mountains, some of which, as well as the extensive plains between them, are highly cultivated. The grounds about the capital, bounded by mountains, rocks, and woods, are beautifully varied, and exhibit a flourishing state of agriculture. Access to the country is difficult, on account of its natural barriers: and the greater part of it continues still to be very imperfectly known. The insalubrity of the climate, and the almost constant hostilities of the Portuguese, Dutch, and English with the natives, have, in a great measure, prevented the researches of travellers. Excepting the lines of three or four different rugged paths to Candy, our acquaintance with the nature of the inland districts continues to be extremely limited. From what has been seen, however, they appear equal in point of culture to any part of the sea coasts.

The highest and most conspicuous mountain in the island is Adam's Peak, lying sixty miles east by south of Columbo. It is of a conical shape, and is seen distinctly by those who sail along the south-west coast for an extent of one hundred and fifty miles. From Chilauw it bears south-east: from Dondra-head north by west. Two lesser peaks rise from the same mountain, and, when viewed from some parts of the interior, all three appear of equal height. Notwithstanding the obvious and not distant situation of this mountain, no European subject of Great Britain has ever visited it. It is generally believed, however, that there

exists upon the top of it a carved stone, called an impression of a foot of Buddha, in some respects similar to those in the kingdoms of Ava and Siam.

Ceylon is well supplied with lakes and rivers, which facilitate inland navigation, and might be rendered highly serviceable to the purposes of agriculture. But owing to the luxuriant crops of fruits, and the deficiency of population, the art of husbandry is little practised.

The four principal rivers take their rise from Adam's Peak, and the adjacent hills. These are the Mahavillaganga, the Walluwy or Neel-ganga, the Callu-ganga, and the Calany-ganga, or Mootwal. They are, in general, rapid but smooth streams; and some of them are navigable with small boats to a considerable distance up the country. Amongst the lesser rivers are those of Dandigam, Kaymelle, Chilauw, Putlam, Aripo, Cockly, Gindura. Other considerable streams are accounted branches of the larger rivers. Bridges of masonry are not yet known in the island.

The only harbours of any consequence in Ceylon are those of Trincomallee and Point de Galle, the former one of the noblest in the world. An account of them shall be given when we come to visit those parts of the island in which they are situate.

The heat of the climate is not, by any means, so intense as might be expected in a situation so near the equator. In general, it is more temperate and uniform than in any

VOL. I.

C

part of the neighbouring peninsula. From Chilauw southward to Tengalle on the west coast, the air is salubrious and delightful, the medium heat being about 81 degrees; Farenheit's thermometer, at the most sultry hours, generally fluctuating between 82o and 84o, and seldom being seen, in the shade, above 86 degrees. The coolness of the air in these parts proceeds, in a great measure, from the circumstance of the country being an island, the regular land and sea breezes, the perpetuity of luxuriant verdure, the moistness of soil, and the frequency of rain. In the other parts of the coast, where the soil is more arid, and not so well watered, the heat is considerably greater. In the inland districts, which are often marshy and abounding in wood, the air is, generally, unhealthy, and, in some places, particularly noxious. It is frequently moist, vitiated, and confined between mountains and forests. The variation of temperature between the night and day is remarkably great; Farenheit's thermometer often ranging, in the course of nine hours, from sixty-nine to ninety-nine degrees. Dense and heavy fogs rise every evening and morning betwixt the hills. Hot sultry days are succeeded by damp chilly nights. In these situations, a person does not feel comfortable, after the sun is down, without the aid of blankets; and the jungle, or hill-fever, of the worst kind, is a common consequence of exposure to the influence of

the climate.

The days and nights are nearly equal throughout the year: the atmosphere is almost always serene: the moonlight is clearer than in England: and the sun may be seen rise and set almost every day in his brightest lustre.

Thunder and lightning are frequent in all parts of the island, but seldom attended with destructive consequences. The highest house in the fort of Columbo, however, was struck by lightning in the year 1805, when part of the roof and one of the walls was considerably injured. Slight earthquakes are sometimes felt, but are never attended with violent convulsions, or fatal effects.

Ceylon partakes of the advantage of both the periodical rains, which fertilize the eastern and western coasts of the Indian peninsula, and the seasons divide exactly in its centre, where a ridge of lofty mountains forms their boundaries, and bisects the island. Whilst torrents of rain fall on the south and west sides, the north and east experience an unclouded sky, accompanied with all the fervour of the torrid zone. When the latter are obscured, the former are again enlivened with uninterrupted sunshine.

The north-east monsoon blows from November to April, and sometimes to May, when the south-west wind commences, and continues during the rest of the year.

Excepting a short period at the first setting in of the monsoons, when these winds rage with greatest violence, regular land and sea breezes prevail, for a certain number

of hours every day, along all the coasts. The sea breeze usually sets in, after some hours of calm, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and continues until near six in the evening. The land breeze commences about seven, prevails through the night, and gradually dies away towards eight in the morning.

The action of the morning sun upon the earth having warmed and rarefied the air above it, currents of cooler air rush in from the sea to restore the equilibrium. The sea imbibing heat more gradually, but more deeply, and retaining it for a longer time, produces a similar effect, in an opposite direction, in the evening.

May it not be considered as an instance of the wisdom of Providence in the established laws of nature, that the heat of the climate is itself the cause of producing those refreshing breezes which allay its fervour?

The foundation of the soil is generally a deep layer of reddish clay, mixed with sandy and ferruginous particles. In the country it is called by the name of cabooc stone. When first broken up it is as soft as a stiff clay, and as easily cut into pieces; but, after being exposed to the heat of the sun, it becomes indurated and brittle, and is used as stone for the purposes of building. This foundation of the soil is covered with strata of black mould, and white sand, the latter of which forms the surface. Its fertility is indeed remarkable, almost every where produc