380 
Journal of the Embassy 
try, or ■ house for the accommodation of travellers, was built 
here by the Dutch : at present it is much out of repair. A 
Cino’lese villai^e, and a small circular fort, or rather intrench- 
merit, lie close by the river, which is here broad and rapid. 
'During the disturbances in 1797? the 35th battalion of Ma- 
dras Sepoys occupied this post several months, and during 
that period lost many of their men from the fire of the rebels 
who concealed themselves in the neiolibourinsj thickets.—- — This 
day a private of the 19 th regt. while washing his trowsers on 
the brink of the river was suddenly seized and dragged down, 
by an alligator. Rain with severe thunder and lightning at 
night. 
l6tli. Halted, We now began to experience the difference 
of climate here and at Col umbo. Heavy fogs and dews at 
night, succeeded by excessively hot and sultry weather by day;; 
the height of the thermometer being 9^ at noon. — Rain^ 
thunder, and lightning at night. 
17 th. About two o’clock the general ordered the guns with 
two companies of Sepoys and the pioneers to proceed about 
six miles farther ; as the next day’s march was long, and the 
fatigues, which the men would have to encounter from being 
exposed to the heat of the sun, would be greatly encreased 
if they should be obliged to accompany the artillery, which 
on account of the badness of the roads could proceed but 
very slowly. 
18th. The escort set off very early in the morning, and march- 
ed fourteen miles to Sittivacca. The road was exceedingly 
hilly and difficult, full of ascents and descents, and often obliged 
to wind among the vallies which inteisect the hills, as the im- 
penetrable thickets on each side prevent any passage but by 
the beaten tract. 
