230 MRS COL. WALKER'S TOUR IN CEYLON. | 
a very steady head to venture across them. In a short i 
however, I doubt not this river will be cleared, and goo 
bridges built, so as to render the navigation easy and e 
ditious, as a spirit of improvement and enterprise has b 
awakened in the district, from the liberal and enlightened 
policy of the agent of government. A considerable grant 
land has been lately applied for by a gentleman acquain 
with the cultivation of the Sugar cane, which he thinks li 
to succeed well in this part of the island. The plant is known 
to thrive in many places, but it has never been cultivated 
any extent, nor any trouble,taken to introduce the be 
kinds. With capital, skill, and industry, I have no « 
Ceylon may become one of the most fertile countries in t 
world; every thing grows so luxuriantly here. But I 
return to Hinnidoon. 7 
* From the Rest-House we set off about 8 A.M» ve 
the river, and travelled a mile or more before we commence 
the ascent of the Haycock hill, which we found exceedit 
steep, very long and very fatiguing ; its first abrupt rise. 
rugged, the hills covered with coarse grass and many k 
shrubs common about Colombo. After accomplishing 
first stage, as it may be called, the view is very beautiful, the 
path continues for some distance along a level ridge descen: 
ing a little in some places, Before again beginning to asce 
the path enters a thick wood of various forest trees, and : | 
becomes exceedingly rugged and steep, without a level re 
ing place till the summit is attained; the wood and jungle ; 
the way so thick and high, that nothing can be seen, and the 
air so much excluded as to render the heat very oppressi” 
We were told that in the dense.forest which covers t 
mountain, are found many of the most valuable woods of 
.. island, Ebony, (Diospyros Ebenum) Calaminder (D. 4 
~ cens) Satin-wood, (Swietenia chloroxylon), and many o! T 
_of which a long list was given us by the Modlear, or headmaı 
_ Of the district, who had been prevented by public busines* 
from accompanying us to the top of the hill, but joine 
Qu return to the rest-house. he Nepenthes, so comm 
