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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X. 



opening intended as an embrasure for a cannon. The cannon 

 had disappeared, but the timber beam of halmilla, after 

 two centuries and a half of exposure to wind and rain and 

 attacks of the insect kind, still lay across the top of the 

 opening. The opposite walls of the fosses were perpen- 

 dicular, and we had to clamber up as best we could with the 

 aid of jungle roots. A little further on we passed, wonder- 

 ful to relate, a spring of fresh water, and a few steps still 

 further brought us to the summit of the peak. This is 

 crowned with an oblong stone building, the thick walls of 

 which are still standing, though the roof has fallen in. We 

 climbed on to the walls, startling as we did so a jungle-hen, 

 who new away, deserting her nest and eggs. Then we were 

 rewarded for our pains by a fine view in the Hunasgiriya 

 direction. We spent some time in exploring the locality, 

 finding everywhere on the southern and eastern slopes the 

 remains of mouldering walls, by which the steep hill-sides 

 had been shaped and fashioned into battlements and bastions 

 and escarpments, after the manner of a western mediaeval 

 castle. On the north and west were sheer precipices, which 

 rendered access impossible and artificial defences unneces- 

 sary. On the northern side tradition relates the existence of 

 a cave, which, being approached from above by means of a 

 chain suspended from the rock, formed, when the chain was 

 withdrawn, a sure and impenetrable hiding-place. 



The remains of the stronghold are scattered about an area 

 of several acres ; and for the three-fold reason, that they are 

 on so large a scale, our time was limited, and the ground is 

 steep and covered with dense jungle, I am unable to enter 

 into any more detailed description of the plan of the fortress 

 than has been suggested by the foregoing notes. 



In recent times cannon and stone cannon-balls have been 

 found, including a bar-shot, and we hunted about with some 

 curiosity for souvenirs of this description. But in this we 

 were disappointed, all such relics of the past having been 

 appropriated by former " picnicers" and the denizens of the 

 neighbouring villages, who have realised Scripture, not indeed 



