1 6 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. l. 



rally very unfavourable to sport of all kinds. The 

 length of the island is about two hundred and eighty 

 miles, by one hundred and fifty in width ; the greater 

 portion of this surface is covered with impenetrable 

 jungles, which form secure coverts for countless 

 animals. 



The centre of the island is mountainous, torrents 

 from which, form the sources of the numerous rivers by 

 which Ceylon is so well watered. The low country is 

 flat. The soil throughout the island is generally poor 

 and sandy. 



This being the character of the country, and vast 

 forests rendered impenetrable by tangled underwood 

 forming the principal features of the landscape, a 

 person arriving at Ceylon for the purpose of enjoying 

 its wild sports would feel an inexpressible disappoint- 

 ment. 



Instead of mounting a good horse, as he might 

 have fondly anticipated, and at once speeding over 

 trackless plains till so far from human habitations 

 that the territories of beasts commence, he finds him- 

 self walled in by jungle on either side of the high- 

 way. In vain he asks for information. He finds the 

 neighbourhood of Galle, his first landing place, densely 

 populated ; he gets into the coach for Colombo. 

 Seventy miles of close population and groves of 

 cocoa-nut trees are passed, and he reaches the capital. 

 This is worse and worse— he has seen no signs of 



