N"0. 61. — 1908.] LESSER KNOWN HILLS. 



171 



dry, and where there was any water it existed only in very 

 limited pools of greater or less degree of turbidity. 



Numbers of old rainfall tanks abound, but none of appre- 

 ciable size, while all were in a state of abandonment, the 

 present population being too small and too indifferent to 

 restore to use these silent witnesses of a former age of 

 agricultural activity. 



Like the last mentioned mountain, Deyigal-hela indicates 

 former occupation. The summit of this abrupt mass of rock 

 has Quantities of brick scattered over it in all directions, but 

 at present in their ruined condition indicating no definite 

 outline or plan. Here, too, water cannot be procured in fine 

 weather without descending for a considerable distance into 

 the valley below. The climb to the summit is laborious, 

 owing to steepness and rock obstruction ; thus, in one place, 

 one has to scramble through a very small cavernous opening 

 between two rocks before mounting the final slope. 



A large gallery-like cave forms the final finish of the hill, 

 on the top of which a double cap of rocks affords a roof. In 

 front of and below this open cave is a grove of kinas, unlike 

 any other Ceylon species of Calophyllum, and yielding rather 

 large oily nuts. The chief distinction in this species is in the 

 remarkable development of the bark, which forms into large 

 nodular masses or " bosses " of several inches in thickness. 

 A group of bamboos, much like the common " batali " of the 

 wet zone, is also remarkable in so dry a place, but was I think 

 unquestionably introduced. 



The mountain top is exposed to dry winds and continued 

 periods of drought, so that the plant life is naturally stunted. 

 The base of the hill is exceedingly rough, and affords shelter to 

 bears among the fallen stone debris. I was informed that in 

 early days this was a Vedda stronghold, but not a trace is 

 to be found to-day of houses or dwellings, except, as already 

 mentioned, at the summit, where brickwork points to cultured 

 methods that cannot be associated with the acknowledged 

 style of Vedda life. 



3. — Nil-gala. 



The next mountain of importance that I visited was Nil-gala, 

 his is a rocky point rising rather abruptly from the plains, 



