42 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
is also included a hill or rising point, immediately over the 
sea, and covered with a great quantity of thick jungle, in 
which wild deer and other game find shelter. This rising 
ground is very little inhabited, most of the houses being close 
to the landing place, which lies in the lowest part. Even the 
lower parts of the fort were much incumbered with wood till 
within these few years. 
The fort is strong, and commands the principal bays ; and, in 
particular, the entrance into the grand harbour, or inner bay, 
which affords at all seasons and in every variety of weather, 
a secure shelter to ships of all descriptions, being land-locked 
on alt sides, and sufficiently deep and capacious to receive the 
largest vessel, or any number of vessels. This harbour is also 
overlooked by Fort Ostenburg, a strong fort standing on a cliff, 
which projects into the sea ; it was originally built by the Por- 
tuguese out of the ruins of some celebrated pagodas which 
once stood here. This fort cannot be attacked by sea, till 
the fort of Trincomalee be first taken, and the entrance of 
the harbour forced. In the bay the shores are so bold, and 
the water so deep close up to them, that it is almost possible 
to step from the rocks into the vessels that moor alongside 
of them. At the extremity of the rock on which the fort 
stands, a strong battery is erected, where the flag-staff of the 
fort is placed. 
This harbour, from its nature and situation, is that which 
stamps Ceylon one of our most valuable acquisitions in the 
East Indies. As soon as the violent monsoons commence. 
