THE HUMAN SPECIES. 33 



important changes ; but when this most southern ex- 

 tremity of the peninsula is turned, the sea between the 

 mainland and the island of Ceylon is found to be of 

 inconsiderable depth, particularly in the Gulf of Ma- 

 naar, abounding in the pearl oyster; and, from the 

 long and narrow island of that name, on the Ceylon 

 side, a shoal, impassible to ships of burthen, extends 

 across the intervening space to Ramiseram, a similar 

 low and lengthy island, which almost joins a point of 

 land, projecting far out from the coast of the Carnatic. 

 This shoal, based perhaps upon a natural dyke of rock, 

 is the celebrated Adam's Bridge of geographers ; and, 

 at the time of the first European navigators, still re- 

 tained several islands above water.* Both Manaar 

 and Ramiseram are decorated with temples, and the 

 whole region, on either side, is redolent of mythologi- 

 cal legends of the most remote antiquity. The sea, in 

 particular that portion to the north and east of the 

 bridge, denominated the Palk Strait, is the recorded 

 space of a great diluvian submersion, leaving, on the 

 Ceylon side, evidence of the fact, in the cluster of 



* The channels have shoaled up to little more than four 

 feet water, as we were informed by the late Major Rennell, 

 who had surveyed the vicinity, since the French Admiral, 

 Suffrein, about the years 1780-81, caused vessels to he sunk 

 in them, from an apprehension, that English forces might 

 pass through these gaps, along the Indian shores, without 

 his knowledge, and avoid going round the south side of 

 Ceylon. Though at certain seasons there is a strong cur- 

 rent in the channels, it is likely that the usual tides meet 

 at the bridge, for the lagoons are every where filling up. 



C 



