41 8 Voyage of the Novara. * 



and covered with a semicircular tilt of palm-leaves, beneath 

 which there was room for two persons to lie at full-length 

 packed closely together. The oxen, of a breed that have 

 humps and erect horns, are small, and w^alk with a quick, 

 short tramp, w^hile their entire bodies are tattooed with Cin- 

 galese characters and ornaments. The horns are usually 

 adorned with metal tips, and frequently are dyed, the one red, 

 the other green. The cross-piece of the pole is fastened to 

 the neck instead of the customary yoke, and the cord for 

 guiding the animal passes through the nose. The driver either 

 strides along between the tw^o oxen, or sits with his back to 

 them on the pole. The rate of progression by this national 

 conveyance is so slow, that the mail-car which left Colombo 

 the day after overtook us long ere w^e reached our destination, 

 and it was w^ith some difficulty we reached Galle in time for 

 the overland steamer w^hich was to bring us to Madras." 



At 6 A.M. of the 16th January, the Novara set sail from the 

 roads of Point de Galle with light breezes off the land, and 

 steered southerly in order to avoid the Basses or Baxos, a 

 much-dreaded rocky shoal, traditionally alleged to be the 

 remains of the island of Giri, swallowed up by the sea, and 

 which, owing to the very strong current, require the utmost 

 care to be observed, in order to avoid drifting right upon them.* 



* A late survey, instituted with the iutention of erecting a lightliouse on the 

 " Basses," proved a failui'e, in consequence of the gi'Oimd ha^ing sunk in while an 

 examination was being made by the diver, and left notlimg but holes filled with 

 water, in which, according to the report of the fishermen, besides fish and molluscg, 

 sea-snakes are occasionally seen, of a light-gray colour, and about 4 or 5 feet in 

 length. 



