432 REMARKS ON SOME ANTIQUITIES ON THE 



grounds, in the neighbourhood of Galle and Matura. 

 The remarkable peaks of thefe hills are well known 

 to navigators on the eaft coafl under the names of 

 the Friar's-hood, the Ch'nnney^ the Elephant^ Sec. on the 

 weft coaft ; the moil remarkable feen is AoAM's-peak, 

 which towers confiderably above the reft to the eaft 

 of Colombo. 



From Manar none of thefe eminences are feen; the 

 edge of the coaft appears cultivated with rice; but the 

 habitations are detached, and though divided into town- 

 fhips, are not colle6led together. This cultivation ex- 

 lends for about twenty-four miles and beyond Aripo ; 

 fome churches are built in this traft. The forefts 

 and jungles now approach the coaft, and for four days 

 journey feparate the northern more inhabited diftrift 

 from the fbuthern at Chillaiv, where the Cinnamon or 

 Cannel land begins. 



Some remains of antiquity being faid to exift at 

 Mantotte on the oppofite fide to Manar^ I was conduc- 

 ed to the place, where a Gentoo city was faid to have been 

 built formerly; fome mounds refembling the remains 

 of the embankments of the Carnatick tanks, and fome 

 brick ruins, were the only veftiges to be feen, not far 

 from the Portuguefe church. Little information could 

 be derived from the inhabitants, and curiofity here could 

 find little gratification in the thick jungle, in which 

 patches of paddy fields were interfperfed. Of the palace 

 or dwelling of the rajah, or place pointed out as fuch, 

 nothing could be feen (and that with difficulty from the 

 jungle) but a fmall fquare, of brick walls, now about four 

 leet high, and fubdividcd into three apartments, appear- 

 ing very like the gateway which generally forms the firft 

 entrance of the enclofure of a pagoda or gxeat Hindu 

 building: the approach of evening hindered any further 

 attempt to explore this jungle. From fome traditions 

 of its former riches, fearches have been recently made 

 3 among 



