CHOULTRY AT RAMISERAM. 
55 
we found tolerably comfortable quarters under a fine 
tope of trees,, at the outskirts of the town. From 
hence we proceeded to Ramiseram, situated in the 
straits between Ceylon and the main land ; it is se- 
parated from the peninsula by a narrow frith. Ra- 
miseram is a small island about the size of Alderney 
in the British Channel, low, sandy, and unculti- 
vated. We took up our quarters in a beautiful 
choultry : I have seen none in India more elaborately 
and tastefully embellished. It is raised upon a great 
number of extremely elegant columns richly orna- 
mented, and the stonework is of the finest kind. 
The building is quadrangular, and of considerable size. 
The cornices and capitals of the pillars are finished 
with great care, and the whole subject is one very 
worthy of the artist’s pencil. The building stands 
upon a rocky foundation extending some distance 
into the sea; there is a broad terrace round it paved 
with stone, forming a square ; from three sides of 
this terrace is a descent into the water by a flight 
of stone steps, for the more convenient performance 
of those ablutions which are universal among the 
Hindoos, and certainly the only commendable prac- 
tice to which superstition has directed them ; at least 
I am acquainted with no other that deserves either 
to be followed or commended. 
The soil of Ramiseram is extremely unproductive, 
the island being little better than a sandy plain, 
very low and level. Here are several remarkable 
tombs, which are said by Mahomedans to be those 
of Cain, Abel, and their families. On the other 
side of this little island, there is a celebrated pagoda. 
