CHAP. I.] GEOLOGY. 15 



which has thus acquired an elevation of from six to 

 eight thousand feet above the sea. 1 The uplifting force 

 seems to have been exerted from south-west to north- 

 east ; and although there is much confusion in many of 

 the intersecting ridges, the lower ranges, especially those 

 to the south and west of Adam's Peak, from Saffragam 

 to Amboganinioa, manifest a remarkable tendency to run 

 in parallel ridges in a direction from south-east to north- 

 west. 



Towards the north, on the contrary, the offsets of 

 the mountain system, with the exception of those which 

 stretch towards Trincomalie, radiate to short distances 

 in various directions, and speedily sink to the level 

 of the plain. Detached hills of great altitude are rare, 

 the most celebrated being that of Mihintala, which over- 

 looks the sacred city of Anarajapoora : and Sigiri is the 

 only example in Ceylon of those solitary acclivities, which 

 form so remarkable a feature in the table-land of the 

 Dekkan, starting abruptly from the plain with scarped 

 and perpendicular sides, and converted by the Indians 

 into strongholds, accessible only by precipitous pathways, 

 or steps hewn in the solid rock. 2 



The crest of the Ceylon mountains is of stratified 

 crystalline rock, especially gneiss, with extensive veins 

 of quartz, and through this the granite has been every- 

 where intruded, distorting the riven strata, and tilting 

 them at all angles to the horizon. Hence at the abrupt 

 terminations of some of the chains in the district of 

 Saffragam, plutonic rocks are seen mingled with the 

 dislocated gneiss. Basalt makes its appearance both 

 at Galle and Trincomalie. In one place to the east 



1 The following are the heights of a few of the most remarkable places : 



PedrotallagaUa .... 8280 English feet. 

 Kirigalpotta .... 7810 



Totapella . . . . . 7720 



Adam's Peak- .... 7420 



Nammoone-Koolle-Kanda . . 6740 ,, 



Plain of Neuera-ellia . . . 6210 



2 See Vol. I. p.392 ; II. 579. 



