District of Chilaw and Putlam. 31 



towards the interior, where lofty forests check all circulation 

 of air, and where extensive swamps and neglected tanks give 

 rise to noxious miasma, the people are much subject to fever, 

 lingering ulcers, and various cutaneous diseases. During the 

 prevalence of the N. E. Monsoon, the wind traverses the 

 pestilential marshes just mentioned, before reaching the 

 maritime parts, and gives rise to sickness there. 



Cholera occasionally visits the District, but seems to occur 

 only in September and October; that is, immediately pre- 

 ceding the commencement of the rain. It is at least possible, 

 that the drinking of water from the small pools loaded with 

 decaying vegetable and animal matter, may, in some way, be 

 connected with the occurrence of this disease. It is a common 

 and apparently correct remark, that any decided change of 

 weather causes a cessation of the disease. 



In stating that the Maritime Pattoos are healthy, I ought 

 to have excepted the village of Kalpentyn, in which the 

 number of deaths, especially among the females, is truly 

 lamentable. This state of things has, so far as I can learn, 

 only existed since the town has been surrounded with nume- 

 rous cocoanut topes, which, in combination with narrow 

 winding lanes, effectually prevent ventilation, and would very 

 probably be in a great measure removed, if one or more 

 straight roads were cut running East and West from the Sea 

 to the Gulf. 



Regarding the quantity of rain, moisture in the atmo- 

 sphere, &c, no observations have, so far as I am aware, been 

 made. 



The natives unanimously concur in stating, that at one time 

 the Jungle Pattoos were much more healthy than at present, 

 and account for the change by the existence of numerous 

 tanks then used for irrigation, but now neglected. 



Geology, 



The Geology of the District presents little that is attrac- 

 tive, except indeed to those who turn their attention to the 

 minuter variations in the older rocks. 



