77 
Island of Manaar. 
soil and the surface of the country being so very similar on 
the west coasts of Ceylon, and the opposite continent. A 
stratum of flat calcareous rocks seems to run quite across Adam’s 
bridre : it is found to the water edge on both shores, and in 
the low islands that lie on the passage. The situation and 
appearance of the Maidive islands, on the other side of the Pe- 
ninsula of India, agree with those on the west coast of Ceylon 
to support the opinion that this continent must have once been 
much more extensive, till the ocean, from some unknown 
cause, exceeded its former boundaries in that quarter of the 
globe. 
The Gulph of Manaar, although too shallow to admit vessels 
of a large size, is not altogether useless for the purposes of 
commerce. Sloops, domes, and small vessels of various descrip- 
tions, convey goods by this passage from Madras and other 
places on the Coromandel coast direct to Columbo, instead 
of taking the circuitous outside ' passage, and rounding the 
island by Trincomalee and Point de Galle. This is called the 
Inner f or Paidh's Passage, from a Dutchman of that name, 
who first attempted it. Adam’s bridge, indeed, frequently 
proves an insurmountable obstruction, and vessels are often 
obliged to unload or lighten at Manaar before they can make 
good their passage. It is common iiideed to have large boats 
stationed here to receive the goods and convey them forward 
to Columbo ; so that the obstructions trade meets with here 
are similar to those which several large cities are subject to, 
- of not being accessible to large vessels ; but the articles of trade 
are obliged to be conveyed to them by lighters and small 
craft. The Dutch, notwithstanding these obstructions, found 
means to carry on a constant traffic by this passage between 
