240 
TOE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
takes its rise at a small distance from the other, and runs 
towards the west coast. There are a variety of other rivers, 
which rise from the hills in various parts of the country : 
although these be not navigable, yet if properly attended to, 
they might be employed to the greatest advantage in fertili- 
zing the country. 
The rainy seasons vary in different parts of the interior 
The south-west quarter is subject to the influence of the 
western monsoons, while the north-east is but slightly touched 
by those from the opposite quarter. The high range of 
mountains which runs across the country of Candy, seems to 
divide the island into two different climates : it has been a 
continued drought on one side of them for years, while it 
has rained on the other without intermission. The eastern 
parts are by no means so subject to the influence of the 
monsoons as those to the west, and are consequently much 
less deluged with rains. The seasons in the mountains of 
the interior are regulated by different laws, and do not ex- 
actly correspond to either of the monsoons. Among them it 
rains incessantly during the months of March and April, at 
which period it is dry in the lowlands. 
As I have already given a description of the Ceylonese in 
general, and pointed out the particular characteristics of the 
Cinglese, a few peculiar circumstances are all that require to 
be noticed of the manners of the Candians. The excessive 
jealousy which the latter entertain of Europeans and their 
connexions, has indeed hitherto rendered every attempt to 
