13'2 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, 
though this fort is within the district of Colombo, yet it is 
only subject to the orders of the Governor General ; and the 
same is the case with C alt ura, Nigumbo, and Manaar. 
The country around Matura abounds with elephants ; and 
it is here they are principally caught for exportation. Every 
three or four years the elephant is hunted here, by order of 
government. In 1797 at one of these hunts, a hundred and 
seventy-six were caught, the greatest number ever remembered 
to have been taken at one time. 
Matura lies nearly at the southmost point of Ceylon, and 
owing to the nature of the country to the eastward, no other 
European settlement occurs till we come to Batacolo at the 
distance of sixty miles. The country which lies between these 
tiro places, presents the wildest appearance. Few of the Cing- 
lese have the intrepidity to inhabit those parts, where they 
are in constant danger of being attacked by the numerous 
descriptions of wild beasts, by which this quarter is so much 
infested. Strangers who are unacquainted with the country, 
and the methods of avoiding its terrible inmates, are very un- 
willing to travel through a tract where so many accidents 
occur. Those who are obliged by business to go from Co- 
lumbo to Batacolo, prefer going by sea ; or, if the season be 
unfavourable, they rather take the circuitous route by the west 
and north-west coast of the island, than proceed by this wild 
and unfrequented tract ; where, besides the danger arising from 
elephants, buffaloes, and other wild beasts, they run a conti- 
nual risk of falling in with the savage Bedahs, who inhabit 
