248 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON), [YOL. XIV. 



An attempt to get into them, by mounting from the 

 rock-cut grooves on the north-east side of the Rock, beyond 

 the present ladders, proved abortive. The grooves (which 

 may have held a short " gallery " wall or a battlement 

 simply) end abruptly some distance below the caves. 



I then resorted to another expedient, and succeeded : and 

 this is how. 



The Rock scarp below the caves, being nowhere less than 

 30 degrees in slope, and in places sheer, ascent without 

 the aid of a rope is impossible. A 4-in. hawser was, there- 

 fore, let down to the ground over the brow of the caves. 

 Up this stout rope " swarmed" half a dozen of the strongest 

 and most sure-headed coolies — it is 294 ft. measured 

 distance, hand over hand pull up the whole way — to the 

 apparent mouth of the caves : apparent only, for the men 

 found themselves still 50 ft. out from, and below, the actual 

 floor, with no means of getting nearer owing to the projecting 

 crag above, and the rope's own weight keeping it taut. 

 Ultimately a brave Sinhalese lad with a light rope round his 

 waist (the other end being held by men) crawled, crocodile- 

 fashion, up the remaining steep smooth slope. Once in 

 the caves he noosed the rope to a piece of fallen rock. 

 Next day a strong iron ring was driven into the floor for 

 greater security, and the hawser passed through it. 



On April 21 1 made the ascent with my Head Draughtsman, 

 Mr. D. A. L. Perera : only to be grievously disappointed. 

 We had fain to be content with a poor negative gain — 

 the absolute assurance that the caves contained no trace 

 of previous human occupation. Foot of man may never 

 before have desecrated this sanctuary of eagle and falcon.* 



These natural caves, or more correctly this one continuous 

 cavern 197 ft, in length, with a floor width averaging 11 ft., 

 being virtually inaccessible, has to all appearance been left 



* Three eggs of the Peregrine Falcon (varying strangely in hue from 

 chocolate to almost white) were secured from under a rock in this cavern. 

 Mr. H. Parker informs me that the eggs of this bird have never before 

 been taken in Ceylon. 



