1816.) Jorirney to the Summit of Adam’s Peuk. 301 
has four names, and each division is marked by a white washed 
stone on the right side of the road. There is here a small Ambelam 
(a Cingalese rest house), and the ruins of a building erected by 
Eyheylapolle (the late Dessave of Saffregam.) The Adikars, and 
Dessaves were accustomed to be carried as far as this point when 
they visited the Peak, which opens to the view bearing E. by N. 
The road now extends in a N. E. direction four miles, over the 
hills of Durmaragah, Pedrotollagalla; Mallemalla, Kandura, and 
Andea Malle Hilla, and is excessively steep and difficult. From 
the latter the Peak itself rises about a mile or three quarters in 
perpendicular height; from this place the way is fair climbing, the 
direction at first N. E., then S. E., again N. E., and lastly, N. W., 
where the perpendicular ascent is encountered. This is only to be 
surmounted by the help of several massy iron chains, which are 
strongly fastened at top, let down the precipice, and again secured 
below ; these chains are donations to the temple, and the name of 
the donor is engraved on one of the links made solid for that pur- 
pose. The height of the precipice is about 20 feet, and many 
holes are worn in the face of the rock by the feet of the numerous 
pilgrims who have ascended it with the assistance of the chains. 
At half past two in the afternoon we reached the summit. It is 
an area of about one fifth of an acre, surrounded by a stone wall 
four feet and a half high, of four unequal sides, with two entrances, 
one on the south and another on the east, and an opening to the 
west in form of an embrasure. In the middle is a rock about nine 
feet high, on which is the famed impression of the holy foot. It 
has, in fact, a most shapeless appearance, bearing little resemblance 
to a human foot; and what is most unfortunate for the tradition of 
its being the last footstep of Buddha, when he strode from Ceylon 
to Ava, the toes, if they can be discerned, are turned towards the 
west. The clouds which arose as we were ascending prevented our 
having any view, and we occupied ourselves till four o’clock in 
taking a plan of the summit. We then found it was much too 
late to think of returning to Palebatula, and resolved to remain 
during the night on the Peak. I can hardly attempt to describe 
the extraordinary grandeur and variety of the scene that opened 
upon us at sun-set; above our heads the air was perfectly serene 
and clear, below a thick bed of clouds enveloped the mountain on 
all sides, and completely intercepted our view. But every now and 
then the beams of the sun broke through mass of clouds, and 
threw a brilliant light over the surrounding mountains, then sud- 
denly the opening was closed, and all was again hid from our sight. 
These beautiful glimpses were often quite momentary, and fre- 
quently repeated, sometimes even twice ina minute, nor did the 
Operation entirely cease until it was quite dark. We spent a 
wretched night in a most comfortless hut about 30 feet below the 
summit. ‘There was a piercing wind, and the cold was far greater 
than I had ever felt’ since I left England; unluckily we had no 
