552 THE NOETIIERN FOEESTS. [Part IX. 



The advantages of tliis narrow channel are so striking, 

 and the facihties ah^eady afforded by its enlargement 

 are so highly appreciated, that surprise is excited that 

 a work of such imperial importance as the deepening 

 of this channel should have been so long deferred, and 

 so imperfectly accomphshed, when at last undertaken. 

 Such is the circuit that a vessel is obliged to make in 

 saihng from Bombay to Madi^as, in order to guard 

 against calms on the hue, and to weather the Maldives 

 and Ceylon, that practically she " performs a voyage of 

 five thousand miles, although the real distance by sea 

 does not exceed fifteen hundred.'''' ' The barrier that 

 here obstructs the communication between Palk's Bay 

 and the Gulf, — appropriately called the " dam," — is 

 about a mile and quarter in length. The rocks, which 

 are Hat upon the upper surface, have been so curiously 

 broken up and intersected by the action of the waves, 

 that they present the closest possible resemblance to 



iGE, AUAiil'd BRIDGE. 



deliberate arrangement, and "bear e\'ery appearance of 

 liaving been placed there by art." ^ 



Formerly, the fissure, through which small craft alone 



' Minute of the GovERMorv OF | '• Cotton^ liejxtrt on the Pdiinihtui) 

 31.viiK.\s, November, 1828. | Passor/e, Septonibcr, lX'22. 



