No. 40.— 1890.] account of ceylon. 



319 



Sergeant Samson, a German, who knew the country, under- 

 took to personally hand to Commander Roothaes the letters 

 from the General and the Council of India which had been 

 brought from Batavia. They then started and struggled to 

 reach the shore, but it was not until midnight that the sloop 

 returned, after having been in great danger of being carried 

 away (by the current). The oarsmen had put the sergeant 

 and the two soldiers on shore to undertake the journey 

 towards Puncto gale, over high hills and through dense 

 forest by way of the Galyettes* Dondery, Mater a, Bellingam, 

 and other seaboard districts. 



The weather soon began to clear, wind and sea went down, 

 and the current turned, running now from east to west, 

 though not so strong as before. Weighing anchor with 

 sails set, we cruised westwards. Presently a Hollander 

 and two dark-skinned Cingalese came rowing towards our 

 vessel in a Ceilonese tony, or hollowed boat cut out of a 

 tree-trunk. They came out of the bay of Galyettis, from 

 which we understood that we were not far off. After paying 

 us a visit, they returned to shore. We thereupon received 

 orders from the Commander Roothaes to make for Galyettis 

 bay, twelve miles to the westf of Puncto gale, until further 

 orders. This was done, and we dropped anchor in the narrow 

 entrance under hills clad with jungle, about two stones* 

 throw from the steep rocks and the beach. We made the 

 ship very fast, so as not to be driven against the rocky shore 

 by the force of the wind and the rollers. 



When we got on shore we inspected the principal villages 

 of the Galyettis, which are well shaded by all sorts of fruit 

 trees and beautiful plants growing round about. The dark- 

 coloured Cingalese lived here in miserable plight. They 



* " Galliette ou Calliette." (French translation.) — D. W. F. 



f " West " should, of course, be " east." Twelve Dutch miles (36 English) 

 from G-alle is the village of Bellawatta, of which name " Galyettis " may 

 be a corruption. — D. W. F. [Gandura bay has also been suggested as 

 identical with " Galyettis." — B., Hon. Sec.'] 



