104 ADAM'S PEAK. 



Sir David Brewster has since produced a beautiful imitation of the 

 phenomena of the Mirage, by the simple method of holding a heated 

 iron over a mass of water. As the heat descends through the fluid, 

 there is a regular variation of density, which gradually increases from 

 the surface to the bottom. If the heated iron be withdrawn, and a cold 

 body substituted in its place, or even if the air be allowed to act alone, 

 the superior strata of water will give out their heat, so as to have an 

 increase of density from the surface to a certain depth below it. 



Through the medium thus constituted, all the phenomena of unusual 

 refraction may be seen in the most beautiful manner, the variation of 

 density being produced by heat alone. Brewster has also produced the 

 same effects with plates of glass. 



ADAM'S PEAK, CEYLON. 



FEW Europeans have reached the top of this extraordinary mountain; the 

 last ascentwas made in 1819, by Mr. Marshall and friend, from whose very 

 interesting account we copy the following: " Starting from the City of 

 Kandy, and proceeding south west to the mountain, the travellers were 

 three days performing thirty-nine miles, so rugged in parts, and in others 

 covered with trees and low jungle, was the country they had to traverse. 

 On the third day they saw the few huts of the natives, built on the 

 extreme jagged points of the loftiest mountains, to escape the elephants. 

 At the end of this day's journey, they were only eighteen miles from the 

 foot of the peak, or the upper cone, yet it took them two days to perform 

 that distance. On the fourth day there was a considerable degree of 

 ascent in their road, and they found the trees covered with moss or 

 lichen. For some distance their pathway lay along the ridge of a narrow 

 hill, on each side of which flowed a river. These rivers at some places 

 fall over stupendous precipices, forming cascades of great magnitude. 

 From the height of one of these cascades, the whole mass of water 

 which passed over the rock seemed to rise again in white vapour. 

 Above these impetuous rivers rose lofty ranges of peaked mountains, 

 the whole presenting one of the most magnificent pictures in the world. 



The peak has always been considered by the natives as a Holy Mount, 

 and pilgrimages were very often made to it. The returning Pilgrims, as 

 an act of charity and duty, disposed of their walking staves on the face 

 of the hill, so as to assist future travellers in their ascent. When Mr. 



