the horrible creatures were lifted sufficiently high out of the water to afford a good mark. No less than four were thus drawn up and pierced with musket-balls; but the stitches of the hide gave way, out went the compounded intestines, and down dropped the sharks amidst shouts of laughter. Poor old Buckley was forgotten.

The squally appearance of the sky induced the chief mate to put an end to the sport, and three fish (one nearly fourteen feet in length) were among the slain in our hands, though no doubt several of them died subsequently of their wounds. The prizes were got on board and cut up-in the maw of the largest was an entire arm of poor Buckley, and his jacket pocket, containing a couple of razors and a soap-dish. The sight of the dismembered limb would have produced sensations of disgust; but the queer articles with which it was associated excited mirth -parts of the mangled body were found in one of the others, with several things that had been dropped overboard during the encounter. The remnants of the unfortunate barber were sewed up together in canvass, and ballast being attached, were consigned to the ocean. The surgeon wished very much to keep the arm, but the superstition of the seamen was not to be overcome, and it was buried in the deep.

The lowering aspect of the heavens indicated a threatening gale, and orders were given to moor ship. This was carried into execution; but not before the tempest burst upon us in all its sudden fury. One brig had her masts whipped out in an instant smack smooth to the deck, and there was not a vessel there, from the Tremendous 74, in the roads, down to the smallest padimar outside the surf that escaped injury; yet in the midst of this raging war of elements, catamaran Jack launched his log bark and conveyed dispatches to the Centurion. It was indeed a curious sight to see the little speck as it surmounted the boiling, foaming waves, and the toiling blacks, as they actively and skilfully applied their paddles to the usual song, which, however, we could not hear, for the distance was too great, and the howling of the gale was more powerful than their voices. "Them fellows," said old Snatchblock, "have sarved a seven years' apprenticeship to a Mother Carey's chicken-look, Mr. Marshall, how they handle their timbers and just wet their wings upon the tops of the rolling sea-but, Lord love you, they were born in it, and so it comes nat'ral to them.",

"Born in it? what, born in the surf? eh, Mr. Snatchblock, you dinna say so!" exclaimed Marshall, in amazement.

"But I do, though-ar'n't they Jem ?" replied the boatswain, addressing one of his mates.

"To be sure they are, Sir," assented the tar, "and they're a sort of half-and-half breed, got between a native and a marmaid-the mother always carries the babbies the first voyage upon her tail-there's a many of 'em now sporting about in the surf, if you had but a glass to see 'em with."

"Well, that amazes me," returned the credulous Marshall; "it's no such a matter o' wonder that they take so cannily to the waters."

The gale blew its strength out on the second day, and we once more unmoored, and getting our passengers on board, we quitted the roads. There were seven sail of us bound to Calcutta, under convoy of the Concorde frigate and the Victor ship-sloop, and the expectations were not few that we should fall in with the French squadron.

JOURNAL OF AN EXCURSION IN CEYLON.

THE Government schooner, Fly, of eleven tons, left the Colombo Roads on the 31st of May, 1834, having on board myself and two others, determined on exploring some of the beauties of this enchanting island-the gem of the Indian ocean.

We intended to take for our route Ramisseram, Jaffna, Anaradjahpoorah, into Kandy, and accordingly weighed anchor at half-past one, P.M., with a fine south-west wind, and arrived off Negombo at four, but did not land. The fort, which looks well from the sea, consists of five sides, four of which are equal, but the fifth is considerably smaller than the rest; it has four bastions, each surmounted by a round turret. With the exception of the gateway and belfry, built of stone and mortar, the works are constructed of sand and turf. Near Negombo the cinnamon plantations commence, and extend far beyond Colombo. From the sea we beheld a small island situated in the mouth of the river, and covered with cocoa-nut trees; its appearance was exceedingly pleasing and refreshing to the eye.

We now stood out to sea, going at the rate of about nine miles an hour. It was one of those glorious evenings so peculiar to the East, and which we in vain look for in our own gloomy climate; a more beautiful sight than the heavens presented to our view I never in my life before beheld.

June 1st.-Wind still from the south-west, and blowing strong; put out our tackle and caught a fine fish, of about fourteen pounds weight, which the men called a snook; at 2 P.M. made the coast of India, at a place called Killicare, and at three were off Ramisseram; took a pilot, got through the passage, and stood for the Temple, which even at that distance had a most magnificent appearance. Immediately afterwards, the wind veering round, we ran aground of a coral-reef, but a canoe pushed off from a dhoney, (an Indian sloop,) into which I got, and went on shore, for the purpose of obtaining coolies and lights. After a long walk through the sand and jungle, I succeeded in obtaining a few of the former; but no lights were forthcoming. Night coming on, I got on board the Fly, which was again afloat; dined, and turned into bed. June 2nd. Having weighed anchor at six, we got off Ramisseram Temple at eight, and certainly the lofty towers of the pagoda had a very grand and imposing effect. "On entering the west gate," (I quote Cordiner's just and exact description of this temple,) " a low gallery, one hundred and forty-four feet in length, with three rows of pillars on each side, leads down the centre of the building, after which it branches off in galleries similarly constructed, to the right and to the left, each extending one hundred and fifty feet, then running from west to east five hundred feet, and enclosing an oblong rectangular space; the two ends of the pagoda exactly correspond. The gallery, at the same time, runs down the centre of the Temple, seven hundred and eighty-eight feet; and entrances of a like nature, leading from the north and south, complete the figure of a cross over the rectangular oblong space. All the galleries have on each side triple rows of massy stone pillars, of highlywrought workmanship; those in the front line are the largest and most U.S. JOURN. No. 85, Dec. 1835.

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superb, having a huge lion, with the mouth wide open, sculptured in bas-relief, above three distinct capitals, over which stand a scroll, and a richly-ornamented cornice. Statues of the size of life are attached to many of those pillars, raised on pedestals, representing gods and departed heroes, who paid obeisance, or performed pilgrimages to this Temple. On each side of the galleries, stone pavements are raised to the height of three feet, on which the pillars are erected, with steps ascending to them. The roofs of all the galleries are flat, composed of stones reaching across from the projection of one cornice to that of the other, eighteen feet broad in the centre walk, and the same on each elevated side, so that every gallery is thirty-six feet wide; and the roof of the middle passage is raised thirty feet from the floor. The number of pillars within the Temple amounts to two thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. The edifice is enclosed in an area by a heavy stone wall, twenty feet high, eight hundred and thirty feet from east to west, and six hundred and twenty-five from north to south."

I saw twenty dancing girls attached to this temple, some of whom really displayed much grace and elegance in their performance: there are also two hundred attendant Brahmins. Highly delighted with our visit to this island, but our time not permitting us to make a longer stay, we weighed anchor at nine, and stood out to sea; got abreast of Delftal about twelve, and off Kayts at 4 P.M., having got through the inner channel, par hazard, fortunately without striking on the rocks; and lucky enough we were, for the water in the passage was barely sufficient to allow the Fly to float. Did not go on shore at Kayts, but transferred ourselves on board a canoe with a house on it, which had been sent to take us to Jaffna. Scarcely had we been seated ten minutes, when, to our amazement and horror, we saw the outrigger in the air, and the canoe, consequently, almost over on the other side. We rushed out, leaned on the side of the boat which was out of the water, and, to our great satisfaction, succeeded in righting it. The wind continuing to increase, with tide against us, and our sails having become shreds and tatters, it was no wonder we run aground; the dhoney, however, now overtook us; we got in and proceeded very well for about three miles, when we struck on a rock, and were almost wrecked, as the wind by this time had freshened into a gale. Having at last succeeded in getting off, we took down all sail, and poled along for about four miles. Finding that but little way was made, we determined to walk to Jaffna, and at the same time desired the servants to follow with the baggage in the dhoney. When arrived at our friend's house it was past eleven, and we sat down to dinner at midnight, after having passed a most fatiguing day, replete with difficulties and dangers.

June 3rd.-Went to see the commodious fort of Jaffna. It is built in the figure of a pentagon, with five bastions, and furnished with broad ditches and extensive glacis. One side runs parallel to the strait which separates the peninsula of Jaffna from the remainder of Ceylon, while an open and well-cultivated plain environs the other sides. A large square occupies the centre of the fort, the interior of which is a plot of grass, enclosed with rails, and bounded by streets of excellent houses, shaded by majestic trees. On one side of the square stands a large church of Dutch architecture, and built in the form of a cross. At right angles is situated the Commandant's house, a very roomy and excellent

building. The officers' quarters occupy the third, and barracks for private soldiers the fourth side. The town stands a quarter of a mile to the eastward. The houses are neat and clean, and appear the more so from the complete whiteness of the outer walls. The principal street runs through the centre of the town, on the high road from Jaffna to Trincomalee. It is finely shaded on each side by rows of large trees, towering above the houses, which are only one story high, but raised a few steps from the ground on a paved terrace. Although the country about Jaffna is flat, the richness of the soil and the beauty of the scenery render its appearance exceedingly picturesque. The native inhabitants of Jaffna are included under the description of Malabars; the most numerous profess the Hindoo religion; the remainder consist of nominal Christians, with a small proportion of Mahometans. Of these nominal Christians-nominal in the true sense of the word-Mr. North relates a curious anecdote. In one of his progresses through the island, he had occasion to examine a man upon oath, and asked him of what religion he was: he replied, "A Christian." "Of what sect?" "A Dutch Christian." 66 "You believe, then, in Buddah ?" 'Yes, certainly." Mr. North did not swear him as a Protestant.

June 5th.-At about five I drove out to see the Pans, situated at about two miles' distance, and found the men collecting the salt as it forms there. It is disposed of for 2d. the parah (forty pounds) to government, who afterwards sell the same quantity to the bazaar people for about 2s. This monopoly extends over the whole island, with the exception of the Kandyan provinces. The temptations to smuggling are very great, and consequently, on the part of Government, the strictest vigilance is necessary. Madras, Calcutta, and other parts of the Indian continent import vast quantities of this salt.

June 6th.-I devoted this day to visiting the American mission; I examined the school, books, philosophical apparatus, &c.; had the classes assembled, and was both astonished and delighted at the information they displayed. The pupils of the highest class would do credit to an establishment in England.

June 9th.-Left my friend's house, in his gig, at three A.M., for the wharf, where I embarked on board a dhoney, which brought me, for about three shillings, to Ponnoryn, the first stage on the Colombo road, six miles from Jaffna. The rest-house it possesses is an excellent building, and delightfully cool. Walked to the beach, and never had a more fatiguing expedition, short as it was, for the road was nothing but loose white sand. Breakfasted, dined, and slept at Ponnoryn, and started on Monday, the 11th, with baggage, coolies, &c., for Polloirorogenpadoe, a distance said to be only sixteen miles, but my experience tells me a very different story.

We left this place at half-past two o'clock, I on horseback, with chulebearers and the sixteen coolies. The greater part of this stage is sandy, with almost impenetrable jungle on either side. At about half-past six we got into open country, where I had some splendid galloping after deer. In my life I never met with so much game as I did this day— the number completely bewildered me. I saw two extremely beautiful peacocks, and determined to make one of them my own, when at the moment I presented about a dozen hares jumped from under my feet, and a fine deer bounded at the same instant from the jungle. Not

being able to make up my mind at which to fire, I did not fire at all. We arrived at Illipekadoeire, an awfully long twelve miles, at about nine. Started at six P.M. for Vertiltivoe, an indifferent rest-house, and had some capital shooting.

June 12th.-Pursued our way on to Mantotte, six miles and a half; shot a fine peacock, some partridges, and hares, amid the plains and jungle. Arrived at Mantotte at nine; a good rest-house, originally part of a Portuguese church. In the evening went to Aripo; saw a great quantity of game, and killed some hares.

The road from Mantotte is chiefly over large plains, till within four miles of Aripo; you then come in sight of the sea till you arrive at Bengalle, a village remarkable for the virulence with which the cholera there rages. In a pond in its vicinity I saw some hundreds of alligators sporting and amusing themselves; here was a favourable opportunity of exhibiting my skill which I could not resist. I took aim, fired, and I think did some execution. So occupied were we in our sport, that we missed our way, and did not arrive at the Doric, a mile and a quarter from the village of Aripo, till almost eight. The Doric was built by Governor North, twenty-five years ago, after a Doric temple. It is a very pretty and chaste piece of architecture, and was erected for the officers of the pearl fishery. The exterior is covered with chunam, (a species of lime made of burnt oyster-shells,) which has almost as good an effect as marble. The interior is small and inconvenient, and is now used not only for the purpose for which it was originally intended but also as a rest-house.

On the morning of the 13th we started for Kalaar, the first Tappal or post station on our journey, at a distance of six miles from the Doric. The road, for leagues and leagues along the coast, is composed of broken oyster-shells: dig as deep as you please, you will find the lowest strata of the soil to consist almost entirely of them.

Slept at Kalaar, and left on the 14th for Kallenesselle, six miles farther on. Now the jungle assumes a totally different character-the iron, satin, and ebony trees become larger and more beautiful. At this village there is a phenomenon of a curious nature: close to a tank situated in the vicinity, pioneers have dug to the depth of twenty-five feet, and come to salt water, at a distance of twenty miles from the sea. June 14th.-We arrived at Paomadoo at six. A friend of mine, stationed here with a division of pioneers, has a pretty little elephant about six months old, on which he rides. This is only one of the numerous instances of the docility these animals display; but this gentleness is, I believe, peculiar to the elephants of Ceylon, and on that account they are much prized on the continent of India. At Paomadoo I obtained some nuts of a very curious description, and which serve all the purposes of a filtering machine; for if they be rubbed on the bottom of a chatty (an earthen vessel to hold water) and the filthiest water be then poured in, the liquid will in a short time become perfectly clear.

June 15th.-Left at six for Aleaporbe, distant sixteen miles, where we arrived at ten o'clock. At this village the natives were extremely attentive; without any compulsion exercised on our part, they built a little bungalow for us and stabling for our horses, and brought honey, rice, and cakes f

at. We passed by an old fort, one of those