MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. 233 
with fish, and the Cogle crabs are considered particularly good. 
Alligators are not uncommon, and we were told a sheep had 
=~ . been seized and carried off the island a short time before we 
` were there. 
; * Having sent our gig and horses round to the end of the 
lake near the sea, by which the Matura road runs, with the 
intention of rowing down the lake to join them again, we 
were advised, from the high wind and threatening appearance 
of the weather, not to delay our departure too long, and 
therefore set off at 12 o'clock. Our boatmen did not prove 
.. themselves weather-wise, as the wind, instead of increasing as 
| they foretold, soon fell considerably, and after an hours 
rowing, we reached the extremity where we found our car- 
: riage waiting for us; in fact, I suppose the people wished to 
. Bet rid of us as soon as they could, that they might enjoy the 
Test of the day in idleness. In passing pretty close to one or 
two of the islands, we ascertained the most prevailing trees 
to be Sonneratia acida, a Ficus, new to us, Ardisia solanacea, — 
and a shrub which we had found on the road between. 
Bentoteand Amblamgoddé, with which we were unacquainted. 
On leaving Cogle lake, we lost the luxuriant and varied 
Vegetation which had been so remarkable during our morn- 
ing's drive, and for several miles saw nothing but Cocoa-nut 
. Wees. "The first novelty we met with in the vegetable world, 
Was some fine trees of the Barringtonia speciosa, which we 
| not observed since we left Colombo, and we again saw 
Tournefortia argentea and Convolvulaceein abundance, varying 
in colour, and in the size of their leaves, but, I believe, only 
and elsewhere. We reached Belligame between 2 and 3 
P.M., and in the evening took a walk, to see a figure as large y 
life, cut in relief, upon a rock, not ill executed and said to be 
. a Rajah, whose name I forget, and of whose history I am 
profoundly ignorant. In a garden near the rest-house, we — — 
found a species of Hernandia, new to us, a large handsome, 
 Uee in full flower. aitvaera ds opea babek di 
." Left Belligame at 6, and got to Matura before 8 AM» — — 
Vol. II.—No. 13. 2u e S 
Varieties of those we had formerly met with about Cultura, j 
