THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
57 
is not only bad, but very scarce, and often procured with 
great difficulty. Where any good springs are found, the Eu- 
ropeans take care to have themselves in the first place sup- 
plied ; the natives often find it difficult to obtain the smallest 
quantity. 
There is here a chapel for those of the Roman catholick 
persuasion, who consist chiefly of the Parawas and Malabars, 
resorting hither during the season of the pearl fishery. They 
attend the chapel on Sundays and holidays, in great num- 
bers ; and it is their constant practice, devoutly to offer up 
their vows and offerings before they commence diving for 
the oysters. 
In the neighbourhood of Arippo, the woods are very full 
of deer and wild hogs. Great abundance of these animals are 
brought by the Cinglese peasants to the officers stationed here, 
during the season of the fishery. 
Six miles further on, and at about twelve miles from Ma- 
naar, lies the bay of Condatchy, where all the boats are col- 
lected for the pearl fishery. The bay forms nearly a half- 
moon; the beach which surrounds it is an extensive sandy 
waste, with only a few miserable huts scattered along the shore, 
between the bay and the woods which skirt the beach. Such 
is the appearance which the bay of Condatchy presents at 
most seasons of the year ; but during the fishery, the picture 
is entirely reversed. At that time the bay is crowded with 
small vessels, and the beach presents an astonishing multitude 
I 
