INTRODUCTION.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF

THE ISLAND OF CEYLON.

SECT. 1.

SITUATION, CLIMATE, AND PRODUCTIONS.

CEYLON is situated at the entrance of the Bay of Bengal, by which it is bounded on the north; and on the south and east by the great Indian Ocean. On the west, it is separated from the Coast of Coromandel by the Gulf of Manaar, which issues in a narrow strait, full of shoals, and impassable by large ships. Across the Gulf, the island is estimated to be about sixty leagues from Cape Cormorin, the southernmost point of Peninsular India. It lies between 5° 49′ and 9° 50' north of the Equator; and its longitude is from 7° 34' to 81° 50' east of Greenwich. Travellers differ respecting its dimensions. Mr. Cordiner, whose opportunities for forming a correct estimate were most favourable, states, that its greatest length from Dondera Head, near Matura, to the northern extremity of Point Pedro, is about 280 miles; and that its broadest part is the tract of country lying between Colombo and Komaree, which he supposes to be nearly 150 miles. Its circumference is generally admitted to be about 900 miles. The form of the island, as exhibited on correct maps, bears some resemblance in its shape to a ham; and the Dutch named the narrow peninsula of Jaffnapatam, Ham's-heel, and the projecting corner of Point Pedro, Ham's-heel Point.

a

That Ceylon was once connected with the main land of India, is highly probable. A range of rocks, extending about thirty miles, usually called Ramas, or Adam's Bridge, and connected with the small islands of Manaar and Ramisseram, is supposed to have formed the basis of an isthmus, by which it was united to the continent; but by the force of the waters the connecting soil is entirely washed away, and small vessels, when the tide is favourable, pass between the separated masses of rocks.

Though situated so near the equator, the air is generally of a very moderate and salubrious temperature; and the frequent showers of rain to which it is subject in the south-east and south-west districts, cause those parts to be clothed with an almost constant verdure.

The northern division of the island, comprehending Jaffna and Trincomalee, with the adjacent stations, possesses much of the same climate and temperature as Continental India. The lofty ranges of Kandyan mountains are supposed to cause this difference between the districts they separate. Both sides are, however, subject to periodical rains, though at different seasons of the year; and they equally share in those violent storms of thunder and lightning which are so terrible to Europeans, but which do not occasion more injury to life and property than the less violent conflicts of the elements in Europe. In the south and western districts, the range of the thermometer in the shade, is from 73° to 88°, throughout the whole year; this comprehends all the variations to which the temperature in those parts are subject; but Fahrenheit's thermometer usually fluctuates in the shade about the point of 80°. The north and eastern coasts are much warmer, and the variations greater. In the shade, the range is from 69° to 95°; the usual temperature 83°. It is on this account, principally, that the former is the more healthy and pleasant, and the latter most subject to agues and fevers.*

"From the situation of this island, so near the equator, the days and nights are necessarily always of equal length; the variation during the two seasons not exceeding fifteen minutes. The seasons are more regulated by the monsoons than by the course of the sun; for, although the island lies to the north of the line, the coolest season is during the

The interior of Ceylon, long under the power of a despotic and barbarous race of native princes, but now forming a part of the British Empire, is very mountainous and woody.* Some of the towns are situated in cool and airy spots; while others, and by far the greater number, are extremely unfavourable to the health of Europeans. During the rainy season in March and April, it is said to be inundated by torrents of rain, accompanied by storms of thunder and lightning. Captain Percival states, that "owing to the thick and close woods, and the hills which crowd upon each other, the heat is many degrees greater than on the sea-coast, and the climate often extremely sultry and unhealthy." The judicious improvements which were introduced into these districts, under General Brownrigg's government, and which proceeded with great spirit under his immediate successor, Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes, will greatly conduce to the health and comfort both of the native and European inhabitants of the Kandyan Provinces.

Ceylon is well supplied with LAKES and RIVERS, which facilitate inland navigation, and might be rendered highly serviceable to the purposes of agriculture. The four principal rivers take their rise from Adam's Peak, and the adjacent hills. These are, the Maha-villa-ganga, the Walluwy, or Neel-ganga, the Kullu-ganga, and the Kalaany-ganga, or Mootwall. They are in general rapid, but smooth streams; and some of them are navigable with summer solstice, while the western monsoon prevails. Their spring commences in October; and the hottest season is from January to the beginning of April. The heat during the day is nearly the same throughout the year; the rainy season, however, renders the nights much cooler, from the dampness of the earth, and the prevalence of winds during the monsoons." The climate, upon the whole, is much more temperate than on the continent of India. "This is owing to the constant sea breezes by which it is fanned, without being subject to the hot, and suffocating land-winds, which so frequently annoy the continent. This temperate climate, however, is chiefly confined to the coast, where the sea breezes have room to circulate." Captain Percival's Ceylon, p. 35.

* Adam's Peak, and all the principal mountains of Ceylon, are situated in that part of the island formerly under the Kandyan monarchy; and which is now officially denominated, The Kandyan Provinces.

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small boats to a considerable distance up the country.' The smaller rivers and streams, by which the country is watered, are without number. Some of the lakes are of great extent. Of the numerous HARBOURS which present their inviting shelter to the mariner on the Ceylon coast, none are of sufficient importance to require a particular méntion, except Trincomallee and Point-de-Galle. The former is generally admitted to be the noblest and most commodious harbour in the known world. Cordiner says of it-" The communication with the sea being concealed in almost every direction, it resembles a beautiful and extensive lake. Hills diversified by a variety of forms, and covered with luxuriant verdure, rise steeply all around, completely enclosing the capacious basin. Five hundred ships of the line may enter it with ease, and ride at anchor without the smallest inconvenience."+

Few countries have been more liberally supplied with interesting varieties of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, than the Island of Ceylon. Within its limits, an extensive field of research offers itself to the naturalist, which has hitherto been imperfectly explored. But many obstacles to the natural researches and literary pursuits of our countrymen in Ceylon are removed. The interior now maintains a peaceful intercourse with the coast; and a Literary and Agricultural Society has been formed at Colombo ; which, with the intellectual and moral improvement of the native population, by a general system of education, will tend to advance the progress of science.

The ANIMALS of Ceylon are numerous, and many of them remarkable; among which the elephant must be noticed. They live in herds, and are of immense size. Gomera, a well-known elephant which is full fourteen feet high, but completely tame, is often seen in the streets of Colombo. A tusk of one found at Galle measured six feet three inches long, and three feet in diameter. The elephant is granivorous, and does much injury to the plantations; but seldom directs his attack against the human species, except previqusly irritated. Much ingenuity is displayed by the natives * Cordiner, vol. 1. p. 8. + Ibid. p. 270. Asiatic Journal, vol. xii. p. 515, 583.

in hunting, for the purpose of taking them alive, in which the tame elephants are very serviceable, and produce a considerable revenue to the government." Bears are seen in a few districts; also leopards, the cheeta, (a species of

"The proceeding is briefly this: When the government has fixed on the time of hunting elephants, the snare, (which consists of an extensive piece of ground) is marked out with large stakes of wood, in a triangular shape, having an open base towards the forest; and at the apex, a narrow funnel like the cod of a fish-net. The people of the district are then ordered to drive the herds towards the snare; employing for this purpose guns, and drums, and trumpets, torches and fire-works; or, in the words of a Dutch author, which are in themselves enough to frighten the stoutest elephant-' schietgeweer, flambawen, en vuurstuckeryen, pypers, en hoorenbluazers, trommels, en tambolin-heros.' On the present occasion, (August 1800) this tremendous assemblage commenced its operation at the distance of thirty miles from the trap, advancing slowly in a chain of three thousand men, who were employed in this service two months. As the circle narrows, the fires and the noises approach each other: and when the elephants get within the gaping jaws of the trap. ' the grand business of the campaign is considered as brought to a termination.' The governor and other spectators then resort to the scene of action, and the guns, drums, trumpets, blunderbusses and thunder,' once more rend the air; as their incessant din is judged necessary to terrify the animals, and prevent them from making a retrograde movement. The first compartment of the inclosure is about 1800 feet in circumference; the fold, with which it communicates by a single gate, is not more than 100 feet long and 40 broad; and the space is narrowed by a rivulet or canal five feet deep: beyond this, the funnel gradually contracts into a straight passage, five feet broad, and 100 feet long.

"The next process was, to drive the entrapped elephants into the water-fold. From the water-snare, they are next driven into the long and narrow tube of the funnel, just wide enough to admit one elephant at a time; and as they singly arrive at the farthest extremity, a huge beam is let down behind each; when thus hemmed in, the hunters contrive to secure him, by binding his legs with ropes. Two tame elephants are then brought to the gate, and the captive is passed between them. They feel his tusks, if he has any, and his proboscis ; sometimes, seemingly, to soothe his anger, and to reconcile him to his new condition; and sometimes, if refractory, they batter him with their heads, till they have reduced him to perfect submission. Thus is he marched to the garden of stalls,' where he is very soon completely trained. 'The marching off of this venerable trio,' says Cordiner, 'is a sight truly magnificent; and exhibits a noble specimen of the skill of man, united with the sagacity of the elephant.””—Quarterly Review, October, 1815.