A Description of Ceylon, Containing an Account of the Country, Inhabitants, and Natural Productions; With Narratives of a Tour Round the Island in 1800, the Campaign in Candy in 1803, and a Journey to Ramisseram in 1804. Illustrated by Twenty-Five Engravi (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1807. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... PART FIRST. DESCRIPTION OF CEYLON. CHAPTER XV. JOURNEY TO RAMISSERAM--VOYAGE FROM COLUMBO TO ARIPO--STAGE FROM THAT TO MANAAR--RAMISSERAM PAGODAS--CHOULTRIES--DANCING GIRLS--SWAMY COACHES--PANDARAM--ADAM's BRIDGE. Early in the year 1804, having a prospect of soon leaving Ceylon, I was induced to embrace the only opportunity, which would probably ever be afforded me, of visiting the celebrated Pearl Fishery in the gulph of Manaar. Trifling as must be an unpolished narrative of such a ramble, it may not be unacceptable, when the public, from higher testimony than that of the writer, can place full dependance on its veracity. On Tuesday the seventh of February, at sun-rise, we sailed from Columbo, on board the government brig Alexander, bound for Aripo. The land wind, which blew when we weighed anchor, continued until ten o'clock A. M. after which it became calm. The sea breeze set in gradually about noon, and favoured us until seven P. M. when it veered towards the north, and we dropped our anchor in six fathoms water, a VOL. XI. B little to the north of Negombo. At twelve o'clock at night we got under weigh with the land wind, and, at day-break, found ourselves off Chilauw, Adam's Peak bearing south east, and a long chain of mountains in view, stretching to the northward, over the most northerly of which the sun rose. During this part of the voyage we saw a great number of porpoises sporting in the water, and turning round like a, wheel: likewise shoals of smaller fishes, making the appearance of ripplings on the water. Swarms of flies constantly attended us, gliding backward and forward on the water, at the same time keeping an exact pace with the motion of the vessel. The bottom of the sea was seen distinctly, in nine and a half fathoms water, to the northward ...