234 MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. 
nothing remarkable presenting itself on the road; but the 
place, which in this part of the world may be called a town, 
- surprised me by the number of large and comfortable looking — 
houses it contained. I found, derw. that many of the 
most wealthy and respectable native families live here. The 
fort of Matura, within which the rest-house is situated, is very 
pretty, and therest-houseexcellent. The plants we particularly | 
remarked in our drive this morning, were Solandra oppositifolia, — 
Calanchoe pinnata, and Stravadia rubra, which ornamented 
the road on each side, in many places. Delivaria ilicifolia 
abounds in the ditch round the fort of Matura, where wè- 
remained all next day, to make arrangements for our future 
journey; as, from hence, our mode of travelling was to be- 
entirely changed, the roads to the interior admitting nh; no 
wheel-carriages, hardly a bridle path. 
“In the evening we drove to Dondra head, which I had 
fancied a fine bold promontory, and with this preconceived : 
idea, passed the place, without knowing it; till, observing - 
our drive to be much longer than was anticipated, we dis- - 
covered that we had gone far beyond the point we were in 
search of, which, on our return, we found to be no way very T 
remarkable, a low rocky point, seen from the fort of Matura. - 
** Tuesday, 91st of February.— At 4 p.m. we left Matura - 
after à great deal of trouble, with the only really determinedly 
insolent set of Coolies I ever met with in Ceylon. The people; 
now aware that they cannot be forced to work, if disinclined, — 
and that, in fact, travellers are completely in their power 
do exactly as they please; setting at defiance all established 
regulations, as to the weight of their burdens, the sums they 
are to receive daily, or ‘ateording to distance, (so much T 
mile,) fixed by. government. Even after forcing the hapless 
wayfarer into their own terms, they frequently refuse to 
complete’ the distance they have been engaged for, put down 
. their loads, and declare they will go no further, having taken 
> te en so much in — "— wa e will 
