Harbour of Columho. 129 
The harbour of Columbo, which lies on the west side, is 
nothing more than an open road, affording good and safe 
anchorage to sliips for only four months of the year, from 
December to April. During this period the north-west winds, 
to which tins road is much exposed, do not prevail to any 
violent degree ; and ships from different parts of India put in 
here to trade. But about May, v;heii the iiioiisooii sets in 
on the Malabar coast, and extends its ravages to the west 
coast of Ceylon, the roads of Columbo no longer afford any 
protection. Vessels then find slielter in the more secure ports 
of Trincomalee and Pomt de Galle, and seldom venture to these 
roads for the following eight montiis. Coiunibo is by this 
means cut off from any intercourse by sea vvith the rest of the 
island for hvo thirds of the year. As this is the chief place 
for the staple trade of Ceylon, the disadvantages arising from 
these circumstances are very considerable ; but such is the fury 
of the monsoon hurricanes here, that they can only be obviated 
by improving the communications by land between Columbo 
and the more secure harbours on the east coast of the 
island. 
For six months of the stormy season, this side of the island 
is subject to astonishingly heavy falls of rain, accompanied with 
dreadful thunder and lightning, and violent winds blowing in 
shore. In the beginning of May 179.9, a thunder storm broke 
on the fort of Columbo ; and seveial liouses, particularly on 
the south-side, were struck and damaged. About half a mile 
from the fort a number of goats and oxen was at pasture, 
under the care of a boy ; when he, and two and thirty of the 
cattle, were struck dead on the spot by one flash of lightning. 
A woman, in the black town, was also at the same time killed,, 
S 
