Chap. II.] 



ADAM'S PEAK. 



137 



At tlie present day, the Buddliists are the guardians 

 of the sri-pada, but around the object of common ado- 

 ration the devotees of all races meet, not in furious 

 contention like the Latins and Greeks at the Holy 

 Sepulchre in Jerusalem, but in pious appreciation of the 

 one solitary object on which they can unite in peaceful 

 worship. 



The route taken to the mountain from the western 

 side of the island, is generally from Colombo to Eatna- 

 poora by land, and thence by jungle paths to the Peak ; 

 and on the return, visitors usually descend the Kaluganga 

 in boats to Caltura. The distance from the sea to the 

 summit is about sixty-five miles, for two-thirds of which 

 the road hes across the lowlands of the coast, traversinjx 

 rice lands and coco-nut groves, and passing by numerous 

 villages with their gardens of jak-trees, arec.^is, and plan- 

 tains.^ After leaving Eatnapoora, the traveller proceeds 

 by bridle-roads to climb the labp'inth of hills which 

 cluster round the base of the sacred mountain. These 

 form what is called the " wilderness of the Peak," and 

 are covered with forests frequented by elephants, wild 

 boars, and leopards. There the track winds under over- 

 arching trees, whose shade excludes the sun ; across 

 brawling rivers ; through ravines so deep, that nothing 

 but the sky is seen above, and thence the road reascends 

 to heights from wdiich views of surpassmg grandeur arc 

 obtained over the hills and plains below. In these moist 

 regions the tormenting land-leeches swarm on the damp 

 grass, and almost defy every precaution, however vigilant, 

 against insidious attacks.^ 



Ambelams and rest-houses for travellers have been 

 piously erected at various })oints along the weary journey, 

 where the green sward presents a suitable locality, and 



trunk can-ied him safely to a village 

 on the hanks of a river called Khai- 

 zoran, or the river of "hamhoos." — 

 Tom. ii. p. 81. 



' Lassen says that the early Chris- 

 tian travellers believed that Adam 



lived on the plantain, and clothed 

 himself with its broad leaves. — Jii- 

 dische Altcrthumskuude, vol. i. p. 2(51 . 

 * For a detailed account of tho 

 land-leech of Ceylon, see anfe, Vol. T. 

 Pt. II. ch. vii. p. 311. 



