PREPARATIONS FOR JOURNEY TO ANARAJAPORE. 181 



returned to Kandy at an excellent pace, the road 

 with few exceptions being down hill. 



On my arrival I noticed a great commotion under 

 the verandah ; a native had brought for sale an 

 armadillo, which he had caught in the jungle, and 

 there was a lively competition going on for its 

 acquisition ; some gentlemen wanted to buy the 

 animal to take it away alive ; whilst others desired 

 it for the purpose of killing and roasting. The latter 

 succeeded in obtaining it, and I had my share in 

 devouring the poor brute, which proved very good 

 eating, although he is not always a very clean feeder. 



The principal object of my visit to the interior of 

 Ceylon, namely, the inspection of the Buddhist remains 

 of Anarajapore, I had left to the last as a bonne houche; 

 also as it was advisable to allow the sun to counteract 

 the effects of recent heavy showers ; the jungle in 

 those regions being considered exceedingly pernicious, 

 indeed I was warned that a night passed there was 

 almost certain to brmg on fever. When everything 

 was ready for a start, and a light bullock cart at the 

 door ready laden with my traps and provisions, a 

 party happened to ari-ive at the hotel who had just 

 returned from the very district I was bound for, 

 and he assured me that I should find it utterly 

 impossible to get beyond a certain distance, the 



