The Cingalese people repair to this temple to make vows, and to be sworn previous to being examined in courts of judicature; and, it is said, the place impresses them with so much awe that they seldom violate an oath which is taken there. The site of all these buildings is surrounded by a thick grove of cocoas, intermixed with a few other trees, extending to the farthest extremity of the land, where appears a small pillared building, placed there as an appendage to the larger pagoda. Many stones were carried away from this place, during the governments of the Portuguese and Dutch, as materials for erecting the fortifications of Matura. We left Dickwell twenty minutes before four o'clock P. M. taking the road which leads towards the interior of the island; and at seven o'clock arrived at Kahawatta (the saffron garden), where a square of little cottages is reared for the accommodation of travellers, in the midst of a very wild and romantic country. This is said to be a distance of twelve English miles, but seemed shorter and less tiresome than the former stage. The road is hilly, rugged, and much cut up by the rains, so that the palanquin-bearers were obliged to choose their steps with caution the greater part of the way. To travel these broken paths on horseback would be extremely dangerous, if not impracticable. Advancing into the country, the situation becomes more elevated, and the prospects more extensive. Great part of the way, however, the view is much obstructed by wood; but, on the summits of the rising grounds, there are charming prospects, beautiful fields of pale green paddee winding in the valleys, and a magnificent scenery of surrounding hills richly clothed with trees. There is neither a barren rock nor a bleak mountain to be seen in this luxuriant isle. The climate at Kahawatta is cooler than that of the country below; and the native Cingalese inhabiting these higher districts advised us not to drink the water without warming it, saying, that, when taken in its frigid state, it was apt to occasion intermittent fevers, To the north-east of this sequestered choultry, there appears a rich and charming landscape terminated by the huge rock of Mulgeerelenna. To this place we repaired next morning, spent the greater part of the day there, and returned to Kahawatta in the evening. The distance between them is six English miles, the road hilly and rugged, affording many delightful prospects, rich in mountains, rocks, and trees. At Kahawatta there is a wooden bridge, at present, in bad repair, thrown over a small river, which runs all the way to Malgeerelenna. Portable covered stages were placed along the road, a few yards distant from one another, supporting newly lighted fires, which are kindled every night for the purpose of hemming in some herds of wild elephants destined to be driven into a khraal, or enclosed snare, prepared for their reception in the province of Geereway. Se |