KANDY IN EARLY PLANTING DAYS. 
flows round it, on the west, north, and east, with only 
a free open space towards the south. We have never 
heard it remarked, the idea m our own, that the site 
of the town must have been originally fixed upon, on 
account of its strong natural defence, being defended 
from all outward attack, except on the south by an 
unfordable river. For of course, in the days of the 
kings of Kandy, there were no bridges. All attacks and 
raids from the low -country which was the only point 
on or from which Kandy could be attacked, were 
thus guarded by a very strong natural defence, and 
in case of any insurrection or disturbance in 
the town itself, it could be commanded from the 
south, on the slopes of Lower Hantane, which led 
right into the heart of the Kandyan territory, from 
which they could easily obtain numerous auxiliaries, 
or to which, in case of successful assault, the residents in 
the town, could easily retreat and defend themselves in the 
mountain passes through which it would be impossi- 
ble for any foe, ignorant of the country, to force their 
way ; and we believe it never was attempted, unti 
the capture of Kandy by the British forces in 1815^ 
The king fled to Dumbara, where a few days after he 
was seized and taken prisoner, and all Ceylon was 
subject to the British rule in March, 1816, under 
Governor-General Sir E,. Brownrigg, G. C. B. 
The construction of the native houses ofl the street 
must appear strange to the eyes of a European. At the 
first glance you would suppose them to be all verandah. 
At all events the front verandah is the princpal part 
of the house, with only one or two dark holes behind 
as private rooms, leading from the back of the 
verandah. In the main streets, these front verandahs 
are all bazars, or shops, and in the off streets, in the 
private domiciles, they are the sitting or rather squat- 
ting rooms in which the residents may be seen by 
tbe-passer by, sitting on their ‘‘hind legs,” looking 
out into the street with a dreamy vacant stare, from 
which nothing seems to stir them up. These verandahs 
are all boxed in at night in a rather origi- 
nal way — a grooved piece of wood runs along 
the outside wall plate that supports the end of the 
roof, another of the same description along the out- 
side edge of the verandah floor, a nitch of about 
a foot broad, is left free or open in this groove, into 
which rough planks are inserted, made to fit into the 
grooves, and then slid along, until they are packed 
close to each other on each side of the groove. Of course 
these grooves keep the planks quite tight in position, and 
thus form a sort of portable wooden wall, which, in 
the event of a cold, wet, windy day, can be put up, or 
taken down, on any side, or partially to suit the wea- 
