jU WESTERNHINDOOSTAN. 



of Manaar, almoft adjacent to the Ceyloneje fhore : the length is 

 abovit thirty miles, but the whole chain is frequently inter- 

 fered by narrow pafTages, fo very fliallow, fays d'Apres, in his 

 Neptune Oriental^ p. 85, as to be navigable only by the fmall 

 craft of the neighboring fliore, and that only in calm weather, 

 fo difturbed is the channel in gales by a dreadful furf. The 

 little velTels that wilh to make the paffage, go under Manaar, 

 where they muft unload, pay duty to the Dutch, get their vef- 

 fel dragged through the pafs, and take in their cargo on the 

 other fide. It is very probable, that this fucceffion of rocks 

 was part of an ifthmus, which in very early times had united 

 Ceylon and the continent; for the water on each fide of this 

 chain, does not exceed thirteen or fourteen feet. Pliny, in the 

 paffage before cited, takes notice of the greenifli caft of this 

 part of the channel, of its being filled with flirubs, that is, with 

 corals ; and of its being fo fliallow, that the rowers often 

 bruflied off the tops with their oars, 

 Adam's Bridge. This chain of rocks is called Adam's Bridge ; the tradition is, 

 that our common father, after his tranfgreflion, was cafl: down 

 from Paradife, and fell upon Ceylon ; but that afterwards, 

 this bridge was made by angels for him to pafs over to the 

 continent. 



Manaar is, as the name implies, fandy. The little channel 

 is on the eafl:ern fide, and defended by a fi;rong fort, garrifoned 

 with a hundred men, notwithftanding it is impaffable for any 

 veffels which draw more than four or five feet water. It had on 

 it feven churches, built by the Portugueje. The natives were 

 converted by St. Francis de Xavier, and fiill continue profeffors 

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