No. 23. — 1881.] valentyn on adam's peak. 53 



Eaja Maha wihare. Then he describes a detached rock-ch amber 

 on the other side of the mountain : — 



. . . . wherein lies a figure 9 ft. 10 in. in length, called after a 

 certain Sinhalese woman] ('Diegoda Manage') who caused it to be 

 made. 



Then again : — 



On the top of this mountain [which he now calls w Mokeregalla" 

 otherwise called *' Adam's Peak"] stands a white tower, which is 

 44 feet 3 in. in circumference, and 16 feet high. This mountain is 

 fiat on the top, and planted with several trees, and was at times sown 

 with kurakkan. The Sea can also be seen from its summit, although 

 it is several miles distant. 



It is worthy of remark, with regard to the large and small figures 

 of the Sinhalese, that they shew the same attitudes reclining, standing, 

 or sitting, and also the same expression, with their hands uplifted or 

 olded and upraised fingers, as the idols of the Siamese. 



The following letter from Mr. Helmont to H. B. Governor 

 Syrnons gives us further light on this subject : — 



Noble, Honourable, &c, &c, Sir, — In conformity with Your Excel- 

 lency's command, I reply thereto with all respect that Adam's Peak, 

 as far as I remember, lies two days' journey from Matara, and elose by 

 the Company's estate of Markatta, At the foot there is a large hewn 

 chamber divided by a wall into two portions ; in the one lies a huge 

 naked figure with a yellowish body, brown eyebrows, red lips, and 

 loug ears, with the hand under the head, and the legs one above the 

 other, called Adam by the Sinhalese ; in the other a corresponding 

 figure, of similar shape, a woman, called Kva ; and I remember well 

 that the nose of the former was measured out of curiosity in my pre- 

 sence, in the year 1690, by the Rev. Predicant Feico Wylsma, and 

 found to be over a foot in length. From this cave you proceed by a 

 flight of freestone steps, built dry without lime, up above where, on 

 account of its steepness, you cannot go round the mountain. There is 

 little space to walk and only to follow your guide. There are two 

 smaller chambers: in the one Adam, with the Patriarchs, dressed as 

 * Baljadoors' of a heathen Pagoda, painted on the wall, and in the 



