THE CEYLON MUHAMMADANS. 
further, for my pecuniary resources are reduced so low, 
as to be altogether insufficient for even the purchase, 
of a cup of coffee.” 
Being now firmly convinced that it was his fate to 
remain on this spot, he walked about on the upper side 
of the high-road, amongst the tall mana grass and 
spaces of short green turf, looking out for a site for 
a dwelling, which was fixed upon just immediately 
above and within a few steps of the high-road. Then, 
it was necessary to find out where there was any water, 
so he went to some distance further back, in search a 
nor was he unsuccesssful, for he soon came upon ; 
small swamp, in the centre of which bubbled up a 
clear and pure spring, around which were many foot- 
marks of elk, deer, and also of elephants, and it v/as 
quite evident that his were the first human feet that 
had ever approached that spring. So he said, ‘ ^ Oh. 
spring, springing forth in this lonely wild, I wdll con- 
secrate thee for the use and benefit of all true believers, ” 
and he stooped down, and drank thereof. In doing so, 
his long flowing beard had obstructed the flow of 
water, so that, after he had finished his drink, it babbled 
forth with increased force ; but this very natural result 
was attributed to a very different cause, viz. to another 
•'^sign. ” So he said, “This spring will never dry up, 
but will ever remain, in memory of this important 
event. ” And his words were true, for even to this day 
the passing traveller along the high-road can easily 
take notice, that on the steep bank, just above the 
bridge that spans the Katukitul Ela, is a sort of swampy 
marsh, down which a small stream of water trickles, 
which, if he takes the trouble to trace to its source, 
can be traced to a spring, on the top of the bank. 
That spring was the one which was consecrated by 
Hassan Tambi for the benefit of true believers, in pJl 
time to come, who still, at morning and evening tide, 
as they pa^s this bridge, halt, to wash in and drink 
of the water, and all Moorish women are well aware 
that bathing in this water adds greatly to their charms, 
so that it is much sought after, and used by them. 
They have erected a spout made of the bark of the 
kitul tree, placed up against the steep bank, where 
thq water trickles down, at which, in the early morn- 
ing, they bathe, and if a passing traveller along the 
high-road should appear in sight, suddenly, with a 
great rush and huddle, they will all start up and run 
in, below the bridge, until he has turned the corner, 
and gone out of sight. Once upon a time, on saunter- 
ing along this road, in the cool of the early morning, 
before the sun had risen over the high rock above, we 
became aware that a number of Moorish women were 
bathing at the spout. They caught sight of us, as we 
P 
