194 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



{Ceylon. 



At the watering place, per leagcr .... 

 Coolies hauling a gamc-1, per ganiel 



Rds. Ft. P. 



0 6 0 

 .760 



Artificers from 6 A.M. till 6 P. M. 



On fcfclrtHa the Ilarlnwr. On Shore. 



RtU. Fh. P. lid,. F*. P. 



Carpenter 0 9 0 0 6 0 



Smith 0 9 0 0 6 0 



Caulker 0 6 0 o 3 8 



Pointer 10 0 - _ - 



Workman under him 0 6 0 - - _ 



Cooley 0 4 0 - - 



Artificers, &c. employed on board vessels outside the harbour, to receive double pay. 



MATURA is in latitude 5° 58' N., and longitude 80 a 40 E. The 

 fort, Which is square, and built of stone, stands on the W. side of the river. 

 The gate communicates with two wooden bridges leading across the water 

 to a fortification of larger dimensions. The two wooden bridges are con- 

 nected together by a small island, lying near to the W. side of the river. 

 They are built of strong piles driven into the sand, and covered with planks, 

 of sufficient breadth for carriages, but without balustrades. 



Refreshments. — Flenty of wood and good water may be procured in 

 the river, the entrance to which is about half a mile to the W. of the fort 

 Boats go a small distance up this river to fill water ; but the coming in is 

 made dangerous by the rocks which lie under water ; and the outset of the 

 stream is so strong, that any boat touching on them, is in danger of being 

 overset ; therefore it is best to have the natives to pilot you in. Ships anchor 

 here in the N. E. monsoon, abreast the town, in 20 fathoms. 



DONDRA HEAD, the S. extreme of Ceylon, in latitude 5° 55 N., 

 and longitude 60° 4.3' E., is a low point, with a grove of tall coco-nut trees 

 on its extremity. Near it is Dondra, a populous village, which must at one 

 time have been a place of great note, and much resorted to on account of a 

 Hindoo temple in its vicinity, formerly a magnificent structure, now in 

 ruins. The Portuguese and Dutch used many of the stones for erecting 

 Matura Fort. There is still a small temple much frequented by the 

 Cingalese. 



TENGALLE is about fifteen miles to the N. E. of Dondra Head, 

 and is known by the small fort and ruins of an old pagoda, situated on an 

 elevated and projecting point of land on the W. side of the bay. The bay 

 itself is of considerable extent, being 4^ miles from TengalJe Point to the 

 extreme point of land opposite. Olf from each point run extensive and 

 dangerous reefs ; within them is good anchorage and shelter during the S.W. 



