comparison with that of any narrative of any writer of the age in which he lived.

The slopes of the mountain leading to Heramitipána thickly clad with noble forest trees. The vegetation on the crest of the ridge, as well as the undergrowth amongst the trees, consists principally of several varieties of the Nilloo plant, * which we found in full bloom in the month of September, when too, it is evidently a favorite food of some of the denizens of the forest, for the shrubs bore marks of having been browsed upon in all directions. The Datura arborea also added its quota of magnificent white gigantic trumpet-shaped flowers to the floral beauty of the spot; and the headman and interpreter pointed out to us other flowering plants, some of which are used by the natives for medicinal purposes; such as the Adátodá, the Agal-ádára, the Pawatta, and the Wæta-hira.†

*The Nilloo (Strobilanthes) is a brittle jointed plant, well known in the mountain districts of Ceylon, where it formes a complete undergrowth in the forest. When in bloom the red and blue flowers with which it is covered are a singularly beautiful feature in the landscape, and are eagerly searched by the honey bees. Some species are said to flower only once in five, seven, or nine years; and after ripening their seed they die.

†The above are the native names. The Adátodá and the Agal-ádára, are species of the Malabar uut; the Pawatta is the Paretta indica, Willd., the Wata-hira, is a kind of hedge plant, the botanical name of which I am ignorant of.

Stopping at the station on our March excursion just sufficiently long to be able to get a cup of coffee, we started for the Síta-gangula, where we purposed bathing and breakfasting. Two of my companions, younger and lighter than L. and myself, soon shot ahead; but we found (and so did they) that the going down was a very different matter to the going up; then, it was only the lifting muscles that were brought into action, now it was the lowering ones, with the whole weight of our bodies to be sustained, at each descending step, upon our already strained ankles and troubled knees. With the perspiration streaming from every pore, and with feet swollen and inflamed, we hobbled and stumbled on our way, objects of compassion to many who passed us, and especially to one old sympathizing native-our benisons on his venerable head!—who pausing to look at us for a few seconds, drew from his wallet a fine orange, and with a smile of encouragement handed us the refreshing fruit,—a gift we most gratefully accepted. By the time we arrived at the river, I was obliged to seek the assistance of a coolie, in addition to that of the alpenstock I grasped. Having resolved upon a bath. here, we scrambled up the bare smooth rock in search of a convenient pool, out of sight of the pilgrims at the ford, and in so doing, I came to grief; for on passing one of the fissures between the boulders, my foot slipped, and down I went, feet first, into an ugly-looking hole filled with water, dragging my attendant coolie in with and upon me. Instinctively throwing my arms across the chasm, (about three feet wide), I brought myself up

when immersed to the waist, although I touched no bottom with my feet. The coolie quickly recovered himself and helped me out; but I slipped again at the first step I attempted, and this time went souse up to the arm-pits, receiving blows upon my elbows and knees which did not facilitate my after progress. Helped out again, I stripped off boots and socks, and made my way bare-foot to where my companions were disporting themselves; laughing merrily at my mishaps, which they had witnessed though a crevice between the rocks; an amusement in which I could not help joining, for the whole affair was irresistibly ludicrous. A brisk shampooing, combined with the bracing coldness of the waters, greatly revived us, and our subsequent breakfast on the rocks below was not the least relished meal of our trip. In a small stream which here joins the Síta-gangula, we observed some good-sized crabs, about four inches broad in the body, and were not a little amused at the voracity with which one seized with both claws the wing and breast bone of a fowl, and commer.ced tearing off with its mouth the fragment of flesh that had been left upon it.

The ascent from the river to the Dharma-rája-gala was comparatively easy work-a gentle shove behind from one. of the following coolies being a most efficient upward help. When we reached the rock, an English-speaking Sinhalese who there overtook us, gravely declared that no two people could arrive at the same number in counting the steps, it being a standing miracle, ordained by Buddha, that their number should never be exactly known. Unbelievers as

we were, and one of our party having counted them on the journey up, we agreed, for the satisfaction of our informant, to count them again-our interpreter also counting with us. When we came to the bottom and compared notes, each one's count corresponded with the other's-exactly 130; a matter of fact which evidently exceedingly puzzled our casual acquaintance in the smart jacket and comboy.

After passing the ruined resthouse at Diyabetma, when near the site of Geṭanetul-gala ambalama, a beautiful view of the country below is obtained from an opening on the left of the path. The whole of Gilimalé lies mapped out before the eye, with glimpses of the Kalu-ganga meandering through its plains. Further on, at a lower elevation, on the right of the path, a similar view is obtained of the Kuruwiți valley, watered by the Kuru-ganga. But more welcome to our longing eyes than scenery, however beautiful or picturesque, was the rustic Nílihela ambalama, when we came within view of it. For our progress, slow from the first, had now become most painfully so. D. and G. had long since distanced L. and myself,-and gradually our pace become reduced to that of a snail's gallop. The old man who had made his 56th pilgrimage, decrepid from age, and bowed and bent with infirmity, was, with the help of his staff, and son and grandson, proceeding as fast as ourselves, and it became a question whether he or we would reach Palábaddala first, as we passed and repassed each other on the rocky path. He had gone on to the foot-print, while we stayed at Heramitipána, and had returned and recruited

had

there, and started on his way back to Ratnapura before us; but we had overtaken him after leaving Diyabetma. Some extra steep places, I could only, as an emerald islander would say, face backwards, holding on by the coolie; others I literally crawled down crab-fashion. For first, an ankle gave way, and then a knee, and when we came to a somewhat level patch of the length of a yard or two, we found ourselves staggering to and fro, from positive inability to walk as was our ordinary wont,

A little beyond this, as we were toiling on, dog "Tinker" came bounding up. He had somehow contrived to overcome his difficulties, and his demonstrations of joy at having come up with us were excessive; the stump of his tail wagged with a rapidity that threatened to disjoint it altogether; and his jumps and fawnings about us had in them an odd mixture of the ludicrous with the pathetic. Soon after, L., seeing that my haltings were becoming more and more frequent, generously volunteered, although scarcely less fatigued than myself, to make a push forward and send back coolies to help me on. This he did, and the welcome help came none too soon; for though I perseveringly hobbled on, upon the principle that each step brought me nearer to my journey's end, when about three-quarters of a mile from Palábaddala, both ankles and knees had so completely given way, that even with the assistance of a coolie and my staff, I could scarcely move a step. Supported under the arm pits on either side, and gently forced forward from behind, I at last reached Palábaddala, where our former quarters had