Mr. E. L. Layard's Rambles in Ceylon. 339 



we made the village of Mulletivoe, prettily embowered in palms and 

 other eastern trees, &c, near the eastern head of the lake, which in 

 wet weather forces an outlet for itself through a bar of sand into the 

 sea. About a quarter of a mile up, the lake is crossed by a natural 

 stone causeway, and over this we passed, glad enough to find no 

 water running on it : had this been the case, the crossing, even in 

 davlight, would have been difficult enough, with all the holes and 

 cracks in it ; we however found a herd of buffaloes crossing, and, 

 conjecturing that they knew the way, stuck close to them and got 

 over in safety. From the short glimpse I had of this curious forma- 

 tion in our hurried crossing in the darkness, I should say that it was 

 a soft sandstone. It is little enough I know of geology, it is true ; 

 so I will not be answerable for this statement : Q. says it is much 

 carried away by the natives and sold for grindstones. I could hear 

 that it was very friable as we crossed it, and it was full of dangerous 

 holes and cracks. 



A sharp ride of some twenty minutes brought us to the hospitable 

 house of my friend F., the police magistrate and assistant government 

 agent, a young unmarried man. We found him surrounded by his 

 friends and companions, two noble greyhounds (Australian I believe), 

 and a large tribe of snow-white cats. While the bipeds were shaking 

 hands, the quadrupeds pregathered as 'best they could, with much 

 inward growling and spitting, and elevating of bristles and frizzing 

 of tails. However, we soon changed our wet clothes and appeared in 

 bachelor trim, pijamers and shirts, at the dinner-table. 



Yesterday I was on the sofa all day, from the effects of a tick-bite 

 in the hollow of the knee. These horrid pests are unfortunately 

 very common throughout the jungle ; the species are numerous, and 

 their name Legion. One species is, I believe, innocuous ; it is about 

 half an inch long, and like a ball of the most beautiful crimson 

 velvet. After rain or heavy dew they may be found in thousands on 

 the wet sand. 



In the evening I crept down to the beach and sat on an old boat, 

 enjoying the breeze and watching the crabs enlarge their borders : 

 this they effect in rather an odd manner, literally bringing up arm- 

 fuls of sand, and, with a spring in the air, throwing it away from 

 their burrows, distributing it in radii all round from the common 

 centre, to the distance of a cubit or more. Their love-making is con- 

 ducted in a most grotesque manner : the male struts about on the 

 extreme end of his claws, like a beau on high-heeled shoes of the 

 time of George the Second. After dancing about for some time in 

 view of his ladye love, he perhaps raises a claw and wipes his protu- 

 berant eyes or his antennae ; suddenly he makes a frantic rush at the 

 fair object of his affections : a desperate struggle ensues, and he pre- 

 sently runs off, pursued by the female, indignant no doubt at being 

 so ungallantly ravished. 



Well, I am tired of scribbling, and must get ready for starting at 

 3 p.m. today. I will write again, perhaps en route, but that must 

 depend on my leisure, and how much time preparing specimens and 

 my journal allow me. — Till then believe me very truly yours, 

 To George Johnston, Esq. E. L. Layard. 



