36 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
part broad, deep, and navigable for some distance by smalt 
craft, are of essential benefit to the inhabitants of the parts 
adjacent to the coast, as they afford a cheap and easy method 
of conveying their produce and merchandise to those places 
where European vessels wait to receive them. 
But these rivers, although unusually smooth at their imme- 
diate outlet into the sea, are seldom navigable to any consi- 
derable distance. As soon as they enter the mountains which 
cover the native kingdom of Candy, they become rocky and 
rapid; and tumble down with such a headlong course that it 
is impossible for the smallest canoe to navigate them. This 
is one great cause of the little intercourse which subsists between 
the natives in the higher country and those who live under 
the dominion of the Europeans on the sea-coast, as the way 
by land is equally difficult, nor have the natives been ever 
anxious to surmount these obstacles. 
The two principal rivers are the Malivagonga and the Muli- 
vaddy. The former takes its rise among the lulls to the south- 
east of Candy, and nearly surrounds that city. After a variety 
of circuitous windings among the mountains, it at last dis- 
charges itself into the sea at Trincomalee. This river is so 
deep as to be fordable only towards the source ; but the rocks 
which every where break its course prevent it from being 
navigated. The Malivagonga rises from the foot of a very 
high mountain, known to Europeans by the name of Adam’s 
Peak, and situated about sixty miles to the north-east of 
Columbo. This river falls into the sea by several branches: 
