WEST AND SOUTH COASTS OF CEYl.OM. 431 



enclofccl with Cadjan leaves, inhabited by boatmen an-d 

 fifliermen. At low water, a {\-\r<\\\ river winds, and di- 

 vides the ifland from the main: but when the tide 

 flows, the whole intermediate fpace between the oppo- 

 lite fhores appears like an arm of the fea from two to 

 three miles over, in which we fee men and cattle wadc- 

 ing acrofs from the ifle to the main. A fpecies of he- 

 ron, and tall birds of the Cyrus kind, make an uncom- 

 mon figure in this view; (tanding and picking up their 

 food in the midft of the fea. 



The oppofite coaft of Ceylon is low and woody ; the 

 appearance of the fliores indicates fome extraordinary 

 change, fuch as to have laid it under water; which is 

 however contradictory to the received traditions of the 

 fea's receding from the oppofite coalls. Are we then 

 to fuppofe that in retiring from the peninfula, the waves 

 inundated the lower coalis of this ifland? Or, that thefe 

 contradictory changes happened at different periods ? 

 Thefe might in fome meafure be explained by an en- 

 quiry into the foil and flrata of the Wannie^ or low woody 

 country of the north q{ Ceylon^ and comparing it with 

 the low land of Fayen Ghaut ; as fafts and experiments 

 will afcertain their fimilitude. It may be remarked 

 however that exclufive of the five northern iflands, the 

 greater part of what formed the north extremity of the 

 ifland, diftinguiihed by the name of the kingdom or 

 go\ CTuxn^m o{ Jaffanapatam^ is low, and fe para ted by 

 (hallow channels, which in the rainy feafon divide it 

 into fo many iflands. 



The whole of this low land, forming the north part 

 of the ifland, is covered thick with woods and jangles; 

 this tra61; is called Wamiie, and is eftimated to contain 

 900 fquare leagues. The forefl; extends quite acrofs 

 from wefl to eaft and to the fouth, to the chain of 

 mountains which conne6ls the bafes of the land, and 

 gradually terminates in lower hills, and fwelling 



: grounds. 



