they have this peculiar privilege, that none may be their governour, but one born in their own country. These ly to the westward that follow, Oudipollat, Dolusbaug, Hotteracourly, containing four counties; Portaloon, Tuncourly, containing three counties; Cuttiar. Which last, together with Batticalaw, and a part of Tuncourly, the Hollander took from the king during my being there. There are about ten or twelve more unnamed, next bordering on the coasts, which are under the Hollander. All these provinces and counties, excepting six, Tammanquod, Vellas, Paunoa, Hotteracourly, Hotcourly, and Neurecalava, ly upon hills fruitful and well watered: and therefore they are called in one word Conde Uda, which signifies on top of the hills, and the king is styled the king of Conde Uda.

"All these counties are divided each from other by great woods, which none may fell, being preserved for fortifications. In most of them there are watches kept constantly, but in troublesome times in all.

"The land is full of hills, but exceedingly well watered,

注

there being many pure and clear rivers running through them. Which falling down about their lands is a very great benefit for the countrey in respect of their rice, their chief, sustenance."-"The main river of all is called Mavela gonga, which proceeds out of the mountain called Adam's Peak: it runs through the whole land northward, and falls

f

into the sea at Trenkimalay. It may be an arrow's flight over in bredth, but not navigable by reason of the many rocks and great falls in it.

"It is so deep, that unless it be mighty dry weather, a man cannot wade over it, unless towards the head of it. They use little canoues to pass over it: but there are no bridges built over it, being so broad, and the stream in time of rains (which in this country are very great) runs so high, that they cannot make them, neither if they could, would it be permitted; for the king careth not to make his countrey easie to travel, but desires to keep it intricate. This river runs within a mile or less of the city of Cande. In some places of it full of rocks, in others clear for three or four miles.

"On the south side of Conde Uda is an hill, supposed to be the highest on this island, called in the Chingulay language, Hamalell; but by the Portugueze and the European nations, Adam's Peak. It is sharp like a sugarloaf, and on the top a flat stone with the print of a foot like a man's on it, but far bigger, being about two foot long. The people of this land count it meritorious to go and worship this impression; and generally about their new year, which is in March, they, men, women, and children, go up this vast and high mountain to worship. Out of this mountain arise many fine rivers, which run through the

land, some to the westward, some to the southward, and the main river, viz. Mavelagonga before mentioned, to the northward.

"This kingdom of Conde Uda is strongly fortified by nature. For which way soever you enter into it you must ascend vast and high mountains, and descend little or nothing. The wayes are many, but very narrow, so that but one can go abreast. The hills are covered with wood and great rocks, so that it is scarcely possible to get up any where, but only in the paths, in all which there are gates made of thorns, the one at the bottom, the other at the top of the hills, and two or three men always set to watch, who are to examine all that come and go, and see what they carry, that letters may not be conveyed, nor prisoners or other slaves run away.

"The one part of this island differs very much from the other, both in respect of the seasons and the soyl. For when the westwardly winds blow, then it rains on the west side of the island; and that is the season for them to till their grounds. At the same time on the east side is very fair and dry weather, and the time of their harvest. On the contrary, when the east winds blow, it is tilling time for those that inhabit the east parts, and harvest to those on the west. So that harvest is here in one part or other all the year long. These rains, and this dry weather do part themselves about the middle of the land; as oftentimes I have

VOL. I.

E

seen, being on the one side of a mountain called Cauragas hing, rainy and wet weather, and as soon as I came on the other, dry, and so exceedingly hot, that I could scarcely walk on the ground, being, as the manner there is, barefoot.

"It rains far more in the high-lands of Conde Uda, than in the low-lands beneath the hills. The north end of this island is much subject to dry weather."

CHAPTER II.

27

DESCRIPTION OF COLUMBO-THE FORT-ROAD-LANDING-PLACE

-TREES-HOUSES-VERANDAS-SLAVE-ISLAND-PETTAH—

SUBURBS

BAZAR

BATHING

HAMLETS WOLFENDAL CHURCHWATER-RIDES VILLAS MILAGRE FISHING

BOATS-SCENERY-CLIMATE..

COLUMBO, the seat of government, and capital of the British settlements in Ceylon, lies on the west side of the island in 7o of north latitude, and 79° 48′ of longitude east of Greenwich. Its fort is composed of seven bastions of different sizes, connected by intervening curtains, and defended by three hundred pieces of heavy cannon. It measures one mile and a quarter in circumference, and occupies a situation almost entirely insulated; the sea encompassing two-thirds of the works, and the other third being bounded by an extensive lake of fresh water. A communication is opened into the country on two sides by narrow necks of land, or causeways, running betwixt the sea and the lake, by the cutting of which the fortress would be converted into an island. From the nature of its position,