1889.] A Naturalisfs Rambles in Ceylon. 695 
symmetrical cone — yet not of volcanic origin — about 7,000 
feet high, which has been known to the Singhalese (the natives 
of Ceylon) from time immemorial as " Adiah-Ruah," or Adam's 
mountain, and which is recorded on every map of Ceylon as 
Adam's Peak. On the summit of this mountain is a flat piece 
of rock, garnetiferous gneiss, on which is to be seen the distinct 
impression of a gigantic foot. This is said to be Adam's foot- 
print, and the Buddhists of Ceylon, as well as the Brahmins of 
India, the Tamils, and even the Mahommedans there are vying in 
the homage w^hich they pay to this sacred relic. A low wall has 
been built around the " foot-print," and a purple awning, sup- 
ported by wooden pillars, keeps off the rain, while a number of 
Buddhist priests are engaged in pious ceremonies, and proces- 
sions of pilgrims from all parts of Ceylon constantly arrive and 
depart. I made a point of visiting that celebrated mountain top, 
and, of course, recognized at a glance that Adam's foot-print 
was a fraud, and a very big one. It was artificially cut or chis- 
eled into the rock, and, moreover, by a ver>' unskilled person, 
wh(^ had not e\en omitted to provide nails for the toes, notwith- 
standing the fact that a mere foot-print could not possibly show 
anything of the kind. Besides, the length of the imprint was in 
no proportion to that of the enormous stride, for although the 
foot-print was about 65 inches long, yet for such a stride it ought 
to have had a length of at least 300 miles. But faith, which as 
we know is capable of moving mountains, apparently causes the 
pilgrims to find the looks and dimensions of Adam's foot-print 
very natural and reasonable. I, for my part, took great care not 
to appear by looks or questions as if doubting the genuineness 
of the relic, and even considered it wise to lea\c a small present 
for the temple. 
The climate of Ceylon is, of course, essentially tropical. From 
the coa.st to a distance of about 30 miles into the interior the 
i>land is flat and covered with forest and jungle — the latter a 
dense and thorny mass of vegetation, almost impenetrable to 
man, and affording shelter to innumerable wild animals, snakes, 
birds and insects. The tropical forest, on the other hand, is often 
quite free from underwood. The entire coast is surrounded by a 
