l'74 WILLIS: THE FLORA "I utioala: 



Mineral Survey, who writes "the latest movements seem to 

 have been downwards, which is shown by the occurrence of 

 submerged littoral concrete. There are also legends of sub- 

 mergence. I think the existence of the islands and paars of 

 Adam's bridge are the remains of a more continuous land 

 surface, broken up by erosion and submergence. This would 

 tend to show that the top of Ritigala might have been some- 

 what higher than it now is, a few thousand years ago. 



" What happened before that ? The evidence is scanty. 

 Mr. Parsons' observation on p. 15 of my Administration Report 

 for 190. r >. w hich I send, tends to show that a previous elevation 

 amounted to as much as 60 feet. So that previous to that 

 a<_ r ain the elevation of Ritigala must have been at least 60 feet 

 less than it is now, and, indeed more, for the subsequent 

 depression has to be added on. This is all there is to say — 

 the evidence is scanty, but is not opposed to the theory that 

 an elevation of more than 60 feet took place in Post Tertiary 

 times. The effect of that elevation was subsequently reduced 

 by the amount of the latest depression ; not very much , 

 perhaps." 



The great bulk of the peculiar Mora of Ritigala lies within 

 100 feet (vertically) at most of the summit ; so that prior to 

 i Ik- rise of 60 feet there was perhaps but little of it. But this 

 amount of elevation is not suffioient to bring the mountain 

 top within the limits of a wetter zone than it previously 

 occupied, and 1 think that consequently we may leave the 

 (past ion of elevation and depression out of consideration. 



It woidd therefore seem practically certain that the peculiar 

 more in less montane "moist region" flora of the top of 

 1 1 il itr.ila. must have yot there entirely or almost entirely by 

 Leaping in one operation the 10 mile- that separate it from the 

 Matale hills to the south, or the 280 miles from the Palnis or 

 othei hill- of Southern India. None of the other hills of the 

 dry tone appear t<> be lofty enough for the survival of this 

 Bora, even if they lay in Buoh positions — which they do not 

 u ten i he gape to be t i.i\ ei *ed. 



