POINT DE GALLE. 
569 
The fruits were bad mangoes, guavas, custard-apples, cocoa-nuts, 
varieties of oranges, some of which were black on the outsides, 
and others the true mandarin, shaddocks, and several little fruits, 
of which I did not know the name. The mutton is indifferent, not 
being fed by the Europeans ; but the beef, the poultry, the bread, 
and the fish, are excellent. At Galle is a very neat manufacture of 
tortoise-shell ; I saw some boxes that were very beautiful. 
December 50. — In this country there are no regular bearers 
laid at the different stages, but a sufficient number are taken from 
the place you depart from, who convey you the whole way. In 
order, however, to expedite the journey, Colonel Maddison had 
written to Golumbo, to have a set sent off from that place to meet 
me at Bentotte, which is considered as half way. I brought with 
me my own palanquin and Mr. Salt's, and here procured the loan 
of a doolie for my servant. This is merely formed of bamboo 
covered with painted cloth : it is light, and swinging low, is easier 
than a palanquin. For the whole party we had fifty bearers, or boys, 
as they are called here. The palanquins they considered as so 
heavy that they fastened cross sticks under the pole, and by that 
means four of them were constantly employed behind, and as many 
before. This rendered the labour very light. The pay was one of 
their dollars and a half, or three shillings, to Bentotte, distant 
forty miles, which comes much cheaper than travelling in India. 
Our friends assured us that we should be about twenty-four hours 
on the way ; we therefore determined to dine before our departure, 
which was also advisable, as it afforded more time for the roads to 
dry after the heavy rain of yesterday. Colonel Maddison gave me 
an escort of seven sepoys, and very politely escorted us himself to the 
