472 THE XORTHERX FORESTS. [Part IX. 



exposed. The route before us was wild and inhos- 

 pitable in the extreme, traversed by innumerable inlets 

 and rivers, and leading across long extents of salt 

 marshes and unhealthy swamps. Our foot runners, 

 worn out by their recent jom^ney, deserted in num- 

 bers, regardless ahke of threats of punishment and 

 temptations of reward. We had the utmost difficulty 

 in hiring grass-cutters and coohes to carry om^ pro- 

 visions and baggage to Truicomahe ; and we were 

 obhged to provide and take with us fi'om Batticaloa 

 rice for their food, bread for oui^selves, and fodder for 

 our horses. 



On the afternoon of the 18th of February we crossed 

 the lake, and took the road northward towards the 

 village of Eraoor, through a rich country hned the 

 whole way with coco-nut plantations on our right hand, 

 and on the left abounchng with large tracts of rice- 

 ground, carefully cultivated, and plentifully irrigated 

 from an arm of the lagoon, which here forms a broad 

 canal, connecting Batticaloa ■s^dtli the populous district 

 of Eraoor. To the west, and far in the distance, were 

 the remarkably-shaped mountains of tlie Friar's Hood, 

 and Gunner's Quoin, rising abruptly above the forests of 

 the Wanny. 



Eraoor is a Moorish viUasre, and one of the larg-est 

 in the district. Its inhabitants are chiefly agriculturists, 

 though the manufactm^e of cotton cloth is conducted on 

 a small scale ; but the principal occupation of the 

 section of its population not engaged in cultivation, is 

 as drivers of tavalams into the mterior ; carr3ruig coco- 

 nuts, salt, and brass-ware from the coast, in order to 

 change these commodities for areca-nuts, deer's horns, 

 and wax. 



The Moors of Eraoor were celebrated for tliefr courage 

 and address in the capture of wild elephants, so long as 

 these were in demand for the courts of the Lidian 

 princes. Of late years, however, the demand has al- 

 most ceased ; thouuh, at the time of oiu' visit, a vakeel 



