240 MRS COL. WALKER'S TOUR IN CEYLON. 
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otherwise passable, though in some places rather narrow; and 
I was sometimes apprehensive that the two outside Coolies | 
might have slipped down the precipice, but it is astonishing 
how they contrive to keep their footing, where one would 
imagine none but a goat could cling. Between eight and 
nine arrived at. Dapene, where we found the Bungalow. 
gaily decorated in the Cingalese fashion, with cocoa-nut leaves, 
Areca-nut flowers and fruit, Lycopodium, &c., and breakfast - 
prepared for us.. We found here another very handsome | 
Erythrina, and great quantity of Phoenix farinifera in the 
jungle. At eleven, we again set forward, drums beating and. 
colours flying, to gratify the Coral, who joined us here, and 
seemed disappointed at our not having allowed his musicians | 
to perform, after they met us on the confines of his district. 
The road now became mountainous and rugged, with occa- 
sional narrow strips of cultivation in the valleys; about half 
way down a very long and steep hill, an opening in the jungle 
afforded us a very extensive view of a flat country towards | 
the sea, which I doubt not is visible on a clear day, probably: 
the Tangalle, and Hambantotte districts. As we descended | 
this mountain, the dwarf-jungle gave place to fine forest-trees | 
of various descriptions, amongst which I recognised some 
splendid Dillenias, and Horsfeldia odorata of a great size. In 
this forest our people also found the Ceylon Gamboge-tree, Dr 
Graham's Hebradendron; the leaves appeared to me larger 
than those we had formerly seen; but as we could not pro- 
cure either fruit or flower, we could not ascertain if the plant | 
differed in any other particular. "The Gamboge oozed cop 
ously from the pieces of the bark our servants brought to u$ 
At the bottom of this hill, by the side of a pretty stream, 
and under the shade of fine trees, where our people stop; 
to rest themselves, Colonel W. found two or three new plants; 
_ and I remarked a number of beautiful Dragon-flies, and somè 
. large and showy Butterflies. From hence our road was more. 
level. The prevailing plant in the jungle Phyllanthus Em- 
bleca. We arrived at the Mado-wanwelle, (the capital of 
the district) at half-past 2, preceded by the Coral's band; 
