Descent from Adams Peak. 417 



where, even up to the highest summit, the gneiss is decom- 

 posed on the surface into laterit-hke products. The huge 

 blocks of brown ironstone, however, which are found near 

 the summit, in the hollow path by which it is customary to 

 ascend, owe their origin to the decomposition of the horn- 

 blende. 



After these interesting observations, admeasurements, and 

 investigations, made at the summit of the most remarkable 

 peak in the world, had been brought to a conclusion, we set 

 out on our return to Gilli-Mali, which we reached late at night. 

 Here we found, at the abode of our hospitable entertainer, Mr. 

 Braybrooke, a fresh guest, who likewise intended to ascend 

 Adam's Peak the following day. This was the well-known Count 

 Medem, a Eussian gentleman, who has frequently traversed 

 both the old and new worlds, and was now about making a 

 second visit to China.* The next day saw us at Ratnapoora, 

 from which point we continued our return journey on the 

 waters of the Kalu-Gunga, or Black River, as far as Caltura. 



Our boat consisted of two trunks of trees hollowed out and 

 fastened together, upon which was erected a semicircular tilt, 

 covered with the leaves of the Fan Palm {Borassus Flabelli- 

 formis), under which one might sit or lie at pleasure, sheltered 

 from the sun. As the mail-car that runs daily from Colombo 

 to Caltura was already full, we were compelled, in order to 

 pursue our journey to Galle, to make use of the native waggon, 

 or bullock-bandy. This is a two-wheeled cart drawn by oxen, 



* Count Medem died the sanie year at Shanghai. 



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