THE HUMAN SPECIES. 35 



in vegetation, may well have suggested an idea of 

 Paradise. On the highest summit there is one of those 

 manufactured impressions of human feet, which impos- 

 ture represents to be of Adam or of Budhu, and be- 

 longs to a very early period.* There can be no doubt 

 of the remote civilization of Ceylon, and the ruins of 

 enormous cities, such as Palaesimundus (Arrian), Amu- 

 ragramma, Coodramalli on the pearl coast, and the in- 

 numerable artificial tanks, certainly prove an enormous 

 and industrious population to have once flourished on 

 the island. 



Although Arabian legends of Ceylon have an air of 

 the greatest antiquity, it is from Hindoo traditions, 

 both in the island and on the main coast, that the my- 

 thological appropriations of the local submersion are 

 confounded with the Mosaic or general deluge of his- 

 tory ; nevertheless, a separate record of the scriptural 

 event may be traced coming from a western source, 

 first distinctly announced at the pagoda of Juggeth, 

 before mentioned; and from thence passing onwards, 

 more and more distorted, till every circumstance is 



* This was already an ancient practice in the age of 

 Herodotus. Before his time there were some dedicated to 

 Osiris, in TJpper Egypt ; one, ascribed to Hexcules t was 

 carved in rock, on the Danube ; others are still found re- 

 ferred to Budhu, in Japan and China. Paducas are com- 

 mon in India. There is one to Moses in Sinai, to the 

 Saviour at Jerusalem, to Abraham in Arabia, to Mahom- 

 med at Mecca, and to a variety of saints in Italy, France, 

 and even in Wales. 



