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



thoroughfare, and therefore metalled and in good order. 

 The route via Muttettu-gala and Kalugalla passes over 

 minor roads, which are only gravelled, and in many places 

 not permissive of very comfortable travelling ; but it is 

 much safer than the other. Going by the Puttalam road, 

 5*15 miles from Padeniya, is the path which leads to Ebba- 

 velapitiya, and about half a mile before the turn to Hetti- 

 pola lies Kaikavala on the right, by the wayside. At both 

 these places elephants have more than once been kraaled, 

 and the chances are greater of an unexpected encounter 

 with one of these beasts than journeying by the longer 

 route. * 



In 1850 Mr. John Bailey ,f of the Ceylon Civil Service, was, 

 according to the testimony of the priests of the adjoining 

 temple, only the third Englishman who had ever explored 

 these ruins. In an admirable sketch on " Yapahoo " from his 

 pen, published with illustrations in Once a Week% (from 

 which much of the material incorporated into this Paper 

 has been gleaned), Mr. Bailey points out that the first 

 Englishman was General Fraser, who halted near the city 

 when marching some troops through the country during the 

 rebellion of 1817; the second being that writer's companion, 

 Mr. J. Woodford Birch, of the Ceylon Civil Service,§ to whom 



* For a graphic description of the Elephant Kraal in 1884 at Ebbavela- 

 pitiya from the pen of the late Sir W. H. Gregory, who was personally 

 present as the guest of Sir A. H. Gordon (now Lord Stanmore), Governor, 

 see Murray's Magazine for September, 1884, and for an excellent account 

 of the Kraal at Kaikavala in 1886 by Mr. S. M. Burrows, c.c.s., see 

 MacMillan's Magazine for January 7, 1888, under the title of " Something 

 like a bag : some experiences of an Elephant Kraal in Ceylon." 



f This able officer was a son-in-law of Sir Henry Ward, Governor (as 

 was his contemporary, Mr. A. Young Adams), and he has left ample testi- 

 mony of his talents in the excellent reports on irrigation and other subjects 

 written by him. To the regret of all who witnessed his brilliant and 

 prosperous career, he was forced to resign his appointment much too early 

 in life owing to severe injuries sustained to his thigh by repeated fractures 

 in two unfortunate accidents. 



% Vol. XI., Nos, 269 (August 20), 271 (September 3, 1864). 



§ Mr. Birch was foully assassinated in the Straits Settlements, while 

 holding office there as Colonial Secretary. 



