EXCURSION TO 
have seen no where else; though there 
are several species in the neighbourhood 
of Nervera Ellia. The rain continued for 
the rest of the day, and we were obliged 
to content ourselves within the walls of 
our dismal abode—the only event of in- 
terest was killing a snake as it was making 
its way into the rest-house. 
AtÀ.— Left Diabetma at seven, the ground 
exceedingly wet and very slippery ; reached 
Palabatula at a quarter past ten. While 
there, we were shown the frame which, 
during the season of pilgrimage to Sree 
Pada, is placed round the impression of 
the foot ; it is said to be of silver gilt, em- 
bossed and set with precious stones; but 
looks to me very like bfass, embellished 
with coloured glass. 
Left Palabatula at two, and reached 
Galle-malle, at a quarter before four. This 
stage, although it appeared very bad in 
going, I considered a good road in return- 
ing: such is the effect of comparison. The 
rest-house too, I thought a wretched place 
in going; it now appears most comforta- 
ble—the situation is very good. On our 
journey to-day, the people have been 
much annoyed by leeches, which are 
always most active when the ground is 
wet. We did not see one on our way up. 
We were fortunate enough to escape rain ; 
it had just ceased when we left Palaba- 
tula; recommenced immediately after our 
arrival here; and continued till dark. To 
show how little the natives think of this 
journey, which appears to us so arduous, 
I ought to mention a circumstance which 
occurred at Diabetma, where, after re- 
turning from the Peak, we missed our 
thermometer: upon consideration, I re- 
collected Col. W. having given it to me 
while in the temple, on the top of the 
Peak, where it had hung during the night, 
and where we found the mercury at 54^ at 
day-break. I also remembered having laid 
it down on the wooden frame which sur- 
rounds the temple, and supports the props 
of the roof. Our cook confirmed the hope 
we entertained of finding it, by saying, he 
had seen it there when he went to pay his 
last devoirs to the holy foot ; but he did 
ADAM'S PEAK. 13 
not touch it, as he thought we had left it 
there designedly (as an offering to Boodh, 
I suppose). Col. W. desired our appoo, 
(head servant) to offer a reward of two rix 
dollars (three shillings) to any one who 
would volunteer to bring it to us. Appoo, 
considering his master extravagant, only 
offered half the sum, and, for eighteen 
pence, a man readily offered to go next 
morning, and to rejoin us at Palabatula : 
he left Diabetma at six A.M. and delivered 
the thermometer to us at Palabatula by 
eleven, having gone from Diabetma to 
the very top of the Peak, and from thence 
down into Palabatula, in five hours, nearly 
a three days' journey £o us. 
5th.— After breakfast Col. W.went about 
a mile back on the road we travelled yes- 
terday, to the place where the jungle ceases 
and the forest begins, for the purpose 
of collecting Ferns, of which there is an 
endless variety. During his absence I took 
a sketch of the surrounding scenery, which 
is very fine: he returned laden with speci- 
mens, and bitten by leeches. Among the 
loftiest trees we remarked in that forest 
were the Horogaha, Dipterocarpus tur- 
binatus, which abounds, and over-tops the 
other trees. At ten o'clock set off on our 
return to Ratnapoora. When we got about 
half-way the day over-cast, and the rain 
fell in torrents, accompanied by loud thun- 
der, and very vivid lightnings, which con- 
tinued during the rest of our journey. The 
river, which our coolies had forded ankle 
deep, on our way to the Peak, was now a 
swollen torrent, impassible but in a boat: 
the ferryman not making his appearance, 
we were obliged to sit in the rain for, at 
least, a quarter of an hour. We reached 
Ratnapoora thoroughly drenched, between 
three and four, I believe; and found there, 
Capt. M‘K—— and Mr. M , so far 
on their way to the Peak, which they in- 
tended to cross, ascending from Suffra- 
gam, and descending on the Kandian side, 
which, we are told, is much less abrupt 
d rugged. 
an But as there are no rest- 
houses, or huts of any kind on that route, 
travellers, in general, prefer encountering 
the difficulties of the road on the Suffra- 
