THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
81 
CHAPTER IV. 
Putallom salt-works — Nigumbo — Fishery there — March of the 
British troops from Nigumbo — Surrender of Columbo. 
The coast as you pass along from Manaar to Columbo, 
presents in general nothing but the most desert and barren 
appearance, except where it is covered by almost impenetra- 
ble jungles. A great variety of curious shells are indeed found 
along the shores, some of them valuable. The oyster shells 
themselves are a species of mother-of-pearl in the inside, the 
surface of which is so indented with uneven lines, that when 
paint or ink is rubbed over it and then gently wiped off, it 
leaves behind figures of birds, trees, men’s heads, and such 
like appearances, owing to its sinking into the cavities. 
The distance from Manaar to Columbo is upwards of one 
hundred and fifty miles. A few small places occur in the way 
where detachments are posted for the protection of travellers. 
Most of the road is extremely bad, and the country very 
much infested with buffaloes and elephants ; in the track 
which lies between Manaar and Cliilou in particular, where 
the jungle comes down to the very shore, and no other way 
is to be found for a considerable distance but narrow paths 
which pass through it, these animals often present themselves 
in the road to the great annoyance of travellers. Other 
obstacles also occur in this journey. At Pomparipo a broad 
M 
