THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
45 
Malay or Sepoy soldiers, were stationed here ; but it was never 
considered as capable of any defence. 
Malativoe lies in a very romantic and delightful situation. 
Close by the fort is a small village; and a river which here 
falls into the sea, forms a harbour sufficient to admit small 
craft. The principal employment of the inhabitants is fish- 
ing ; and with this article they supply the fort of Trinco- 
malee. Cattle and poultry are here in great abundance, and 
sell astonishingly cheap. Game is exceedingly plentiful, and 
the woods abound with wild hog and deer. The manner of 
procuring these animals is attended with as little expence or 
difficulty to an European as can well be imagined; for the 
native peasants are so much at his beck, that he has only to 
supply them with a little powder and shot, and send them 
into the woods, and they will be sure to bring him back 
as much game as he can use, without expecting any return 
for their services. 
As we proceed northward from Malativoe, we find the 
northern extremity of the island stretched out into an oblong 
peninsula, almost cut off from the rest by a branch of the 
sea, which, as we have already mentioned, penetrates almost 
across the island. This district, which is known by the name 
of Jafnapatam, looks directly towards Negapatam on the 
Coromandel coast, and is considered as the most healthy in 
the island. This is owing to its situation, surrounded by the 
sea on almost all sides ; by which means the violent hot 
winds from the continent of India are cooled in their passage. 
