con of 
248 MRS COL. WALKER’S TOUR IN CEYLON. 
not; and as we were assured of our next stage being by far 
the most difficult of the whole journey, we could not attempt 
it without our full complement of people. The headman of 
the village having at last succeeded in procuring substitut 
for the runaways, we took an early breakfast, and set off 
about 8 o'clock. ; 
“ We had been fully prepared to find this the most laborious 
stage in our whole journey, but from the beauty of the 
scenery, most interesting and gratifying. Our expectatio! 
in both respects were fully realized. The road is in many places 
most precipitous, being carried up the face, and over t 
summits of mountains, along narrow ridges, and on the edg 
of precipices; in short, as bad as any thing called a road, 
can well be; but the magnificence of the scenery more than 
compensates for all the fatigue, and even in some places the 
risk, (when the governor's party came down, one of th 
horses fell over a precipice, and was killed on the spot.) 
Our people from habit I suppose did not seem to think any 2 
thing of it; indeed, their insisting on returning the same 
evening, rather than stay a night at Maha Ellia, is a proo 
how little they think of the journey. When we set off, the 
low country towards Hambuntotte and Tangalle, was com 
pletely enveloped in dense masses of white cloud, while w 
were in bright sunshine; but unfortunately, as the sun 1 
the clouds seemed to disperse, and following, soon overtook 
us in the form of mist and fog, occasionally intercepting our 
view, sometimes dispersing and giving to our wondering €. 
scenes of the utmost grandeur and magnificence, which- 
‘Shall not attempt to describe; at other times, opening | 
tially, and showing as it were, stupendous masses of rock 
suspended in mid air, apparently detached entirely from all 
connexion with this lower earth. - Again, the fog opened 
the side of a hill, when woods and meadows appeared set in 
. aframe of mist, the scene changing gradually as the wreaths 
_ Of fog rolled over the summit of the mountain, or cl 
. entirely on the view. But I should never have done, were 
_ to attempt to desc ibe the endless variety of those wondt 
