Dondre Head. 
153 
vernmeiit. In 1797 at one of these hunts, a hundred and seventy- 
six were caught, the greatest number ever remembered to have 
been taken at one time. 
Matura lies nearly at the southmost point of Ceylon, and 
owing to the nature of the country to the eastward, no other 
European settlement occurs till we come to Batacolo at the dis- 
tance of one hundred and twenty miles. The country v;liieli lies 
between these two places presents the wildest appearance. Few 
of the Cinglese have the intrepidity to inhabit those parts, 
where they are in constant danger of being attacked by the 
numerous wild beasts of different descriptions by which this 
quarter is so much infested. Strangers, who are unacquainted 
with the country, and the methods of avoiding its terrible in- 
mates, are very unwilling to travel through a tract where so 
many accidents occur. Those who are obliged by business to 
go from Columbo to Batacolo prefer going by sea ; or, if the 
season be unfavourable, they rather take the circuitous route 
by the west and north-west coast of the island than proceed 
by this wild and unfrequented tract; where, besides the dan- 
ger arising from elephants, buffaloes, and other wild beasts, 
they run a continual risk of falling in with the savage Bedahs, 
who inhabit the wmods here as well as in the neighbourhood of 
Jafnapatam. 
Dondre Head, the most southern point of Ceylon is about 
four miles from Matura ; it is called by the natives Dewullum, 
Dewunder Head, or Divi-noor. Three miles from Matura, the 
road passing along the sea-beach formed by the promontory to 
the east, you ascend a heiglit covered wntli topes of cocoa-trees. 
Here stands a Cinglese temple of a circular shape, about one 
hundred and fifty feet in circumference and tw^elve feet high. 
X 
