MRS COL. WALKER'S TOUR IN CEYLON. 237 
fortable quarters at 6 next morning. Road mostly through 
„low jungle, with occasional paddy-fields. Breakfasted and 
remained till 3 in the afternoon at a place called Katte- 
. poolla. A native here displayed a very fine cheetah* skin, 
which he seemed anxious that we should purchase: he had 
shot the animal in the neighbourhood some weeks before. 
Soon after leaving this place, we commenced ascending a 
very steep and rugged hill; the sun excessively hot. Near 
the summit we began to find plants common about Kandy ; 
a species of Rubus, and some Acanthacee not found on the 
coast. In about half-an-hour, we turned off the road to see 
a very fine cascade, formed by the fall of the Matura 
river (near which we have travelled almost all the way) over 
very high and bold rocks, clothed with magnificent wood; a 
sight which well repaid the trouble of scrambling about a 
quarter of à mile through the jungle and down a pretty steep 
hill. Our friend the Modlear, however, had facilitated our 
progress, by having a path eut through the jungle for. us. 
e river is here called the Kiriwané Ella. Our route con- 
tinued rather rugged, until we approached Birilapanatra, — 
when it became level, and the country cultivated. The 
neighbourhood. appears very populous. We reached our 
halting-place about 6, followed by a crowd of people, and 
|< Withechildven ftom sith villages round, who, never having 
seen a horse before, far less one with a man upon his back, 
took Colonel W. for some centaur or other unknown mon- 
ster. Of this crowd we could not get rid as long as daylight 
. Continued; but, fortunately, the pony was more the object of 
attraction than.ourselves. An assistant Wesleyan missionary 
has resided at this place for four years. He has several 
schools in this and the neighbouring villages, but he does 
.. mot himself seem to think his labours have been attended 
_ With any very beneficial effects; at least, he says the progress — 
is very slow, though he hopes there are some symptoms of. 
7 improvement among the natives. He owns, however, that | 
* The hunting Leopard of the East Indies. 
