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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XI. 



we were on the southern portion. The sides are everywhere 

 covered with dense forest, and the way we came is said to 

 be the only access to the top. A drawback to our position 

 was soon found to be the fact that the only water obtainable 

 was 500 ft, lower down, where the Dewa-ela takes its rise. 

 The villagers reported that the place was guarded by bears, 

 and our coolies in consequence evinced great reluctance 

 to visit such dangerous quarters, and would only venture 

 accompanied by an armed escort. Of course no bears were 

 found, though the tracks of a recent visitor were pointed out 

 by our guide. The water lay in a small muddy-looking pool 

 overhung by rocks and bushes. Lighted by the blaze of 

 several large fires, with the dark forest in the background, 

 our little camp looked quite picturesque, and if any sleepy 

 inhabitants of the villages in the plains below noticed the 

 glare on the summit, they probably thought the demons of 

 the hills were making a night of it. 



A cool night, and a refreshing sleep in spite of the hard- 

 ness of the ground, determined us to stay another day in 

 this delightful climate, and we spent it most agreeably in 

 collecting plants and insects. Coolies were sent down for 

 provisions, and many of the villagers finding no harm had 

 come to us, joined the party, so that by nightfall there was 

 quite a gathering on our little piece of ground. The fires 

 were again lighted and rice cooked, and there was much 

 singing and talking far into the night. 



A fair collection of the smaller kinds of insects, principally 

 beetles, was made, some of which have not yet been identi- 

 fied, but most of them are identical with species belonging 

 to the lower hill country of the Matale and Kandy Districts, 

 though not found in the intervening plains. Three species 

 of Cicada were taken, two of which have been sent to 

 Calcutta for identification. 



The next morning all went down leisurely, and the foot 

 of the hill was reached before midday. The afternoon 

 was spent in examining the ruins and in chasing the large 

 and beautiful butterflies, which flew in numbers up and 



