As foon as feventy elephants had forced their way into this place, it being fufficiently crammed, the cords were cut, and the barricading gate dropped down. The greater part of thofe which had entered were fo closely wedged together, that many of them were motionless; and even the foremost, which were lefs confined, faw only a fallacious opening to lead them from this doleful labyrinth. Upwards of one hundred of the captured herd, cut off from their companions, were left for a time to range at greater liberty in the larger prifon. I. p. 220, 221. All this took place during the night.

At funrife (continues Mr Cordiner) we became fpectators of a moft extraordinary fight. So great a number of enormous animals crowded into fo fmall a compass, is a spectacle rarely to be feen. Pressing heavily upon one another, incapable of almost any movement but convulfions of diftrefs, their paroxyfmns of anguish could not be contemplated without emotion. No person could find language to express his feelings. All were ftruck dumb with a species of aftonishment hitherto unexperienced. I. p.221,222.

The most hazardous part of the business remains, that of seizing on the elephants at the end of the long passage, which is the only outlet from the water-snare. They are driven in one by one, making furious efforts to regain their liberty on finding themselves prisoners. When they reach the gate at the end, strong beams are inserted across the passage behind, to prevent them from retreating. Men then approach and bind their hind legs with great ropes, and five or six turns of smaller cordage. are passed round their necks. While these operations are going on, a man stands before the gate of the passage tickling the elephant's trunk and diverting his attention. In this manner they are secured, yet accidents frequently happen at this time. On the present occasion, one unfortunate man tumbled into the passage, and was instantly trampled to death under the feet of an enraged elephant. They frequently press against one another in the water-snare and the passage with so much violence, that some are squeezed to death, or drop down dead with fatigue.

When the wild elephant is completely harneffed, two tame elephants, trained to the bufinefs, are brought to the gate, and placed one on each fide of it. Thefe immediately furvey the prifoner whom they have to conduct, feel his mouth to know whether or not he has tusks, and lay hold of his probofcis to ascertain what degree of refittance he is Jikely to make. Ropes are paffed through the collar of the wild elephant, and made faft to fimilar collars on each of the tame ones. The bars of the gate are then unloofed, and drawn out; and the wild captive darts forward directly between the two tame elephants: he can, however, only advance a little way, as the ropes fecuring his hind legs still continue faftened to the ftrong ftakes of the toil. In this fituation he remains, until the riders mounted on the tame elephants have drawn

tight the cords which bind him to the necks of his half reafoning con. ductors. During this operation he endeavours to undo with his trunk fome of the knots which have been made, and often attempts to give a deftructive blow to the diminutive creatures fo actively engaged in confirming his captivity. But the two tame animals, who are vigilantly obfervant of all his motions, never fail to prevent him from doing any mifchief, by gently lowering his probofcis with their own: if he continue long refractory, they batter him with their heads, and at laft produce the moft obfequious fubmiffion. The noofes of the ropes are then opened, leaving his hind legs at freedom, and himself entirely difengaged from the fnare. The two tame elephants prefs clofe on each fide of him, and proceed, in pompous proceffion, to the garden of ftalls, where they deliver up their charge, to experience another fpecies of hardships. The marching off of this venerable trio is a fight truly magnificent, and exhibits a noble fpecimen of the skill of man united with the fagacity of the elephant.' Ï. p. 225, 226.

In this manner the prisoner is conducted to a grove, where, if he is of an ordinary size, he is sufficiently secured by being placed lengthways between two trees, to one of which his hind legs are bound, and one of his fore legs to the other. A more complicated apparatus of ropes and stakes is necessary for those which are remarkable for strength and fury. The tame conductors then move away to secure another captive. An elephant may frequently be tamed in eight or ten days, though, in other instances, months are required. When tamed, they are marched round to Jaffnapatam, there sold by public auction, and thence exported to the opposite continent.

We have been the longer with this part of our author's narrative, because there are really few circumstances of any value in the remaining part of this tour. A large tract of the island, called Mahagampattoo, was represented as so desolate and unfit for the support of the governor's numerous retinue, that he judged it more prudent to proceed for Batticaloe by sea. This navigation was easily accomplished, and the whole party were landed safely on Batticaloe; an island on the east coast of Ceylon, situated in an inlet of the sea, which extends thirty miles into the country, and contains several other small islands. Mr Cordiner here visited two villages, which had been almost entirely depopulated by the small-pox. The disease had raged so violently, that the sick were abandoned by their nearest relations, and left to perish by famine or wild beasts, even if they did not fall victims to their malady. The elephants had committed desperate havoc among the gardens and fences; and some of the people were supposed to have been devoured by wild beasts. This disease was much mitigated in the island by the prudent measures adopted by Governor North. He established hospitals at the four principal sta

Be

tions, where the inhabitants might be inoculated, and those labouring under the natural small-pox might be attended to. fore our author left Ceylon, vaccination was introduced and generally adopted. The country on the main of Ceylon, opposite Batticaloe, is well cultivated.

The houfes, gardens, and little farms are prettily enclofed, and divided from one another by wicker fences, intermixed with creeping and flowering fhrubs. Between these enclofures are many nice and elegant walks, which often lead into delightful groves of palmyra, jack, cocoanut, and other trees and plants lefs ufeful, but not lefs ornamental, in the midst of which the rare and lofty talipot rears its ftately head. * 1. p. 261, 262.

Trincomallee is next described. It is chiefly important for its harbour, which is so convenient, that, notwithstanding the neglected condition of the place in other respects, thoughts have been entertained of rendering this the seat of government in preference to Columbo.

The harbour, the fafeft and moft fpacious on the confines of the eastern ocean, whilft it proves to be an acquifition of intrinfic value, prefeuts at the fame time the richest profpects. The communication with the fea being, in almoft every direction, entirely concealed, it refembles a beautiful and extenfive lake. Hills diverfified by a variety of forms, and covered with luxuriant verdure, rife fteep all round, completely enclofing the capacious bafin. Many winding creeks, in which the water becomes tranquil, afford pleafing pictures; and a few ornamental islands, difperfed through the wide expanfe, add to the picturefque appearance of the fcene. The water is as clear as cryftal, and, being fo well fheltered, is rarely troubled with violent or dangerous agitations. Five hundred fhips of the line may enter it with ease, and ride at anchor without the fmalleft inconvenience. The harbour is acceffible at all feafons; but, for one half of the year, mariners give the preference to Back bay, it being then fufficiently safe, and affording a more easy ingress. Forty fail of men of war may find there excellent anchorage and a much greater number of small craft can lye in fecurity close to the fand beach. I. p. 27c.

After crossing the river Cockley, where they were in some danger from sharks and alligators, our travellers struck cross the island for Aripo, the great seat of the pearl fishery; but on their arrival there, finding the weather would not permit an inspection of the pearl banks, they proceeded northward along the west coast to Jaffnapatam. Colonel Barbut, agent of revenue for that district, met them at Poonereen, and provided them with boats.

Some of these boats were manned by natives of the fmall islands called the two brothers. They are the handfomeft, finest limbed, and moft athletic of any Indians whom we have feen. The particulars in their perfons worthy of notice are, very thick and neat ears, no fat, narrow haunches, open chefts, broad shoulders, the distance from haunches

to

to fhoulders longer than common, legs rather flender but well-proportioned, feet and hands beautifully made, bones remarkably ftrong, mufcles large and diftinctly feen, fkin extremely black, all of one colour, perfectly fmooth, teeth of the pureft white and most elegant formation, uncontaminated by the juice of betel.

An artist, who pointed out thefe diftinguishing marks, counted on many of those men all the mufcles from the elbow to the wrift, which is the part of the body where they are most complicated, and moft diffi cult to be difcerned. He learned from them the fituation of particular lineaments in the human frame, which no ftatue illuftrates with fufficient clearness and never faw men, in any other country, who afforded fo complete a model for academic painting. They are admirable fwimmers, and remain in the water many hours unfatigued. They poffefs great agility, and are well calculated for the bufinefs of failors, or any employment which requires animated exertion and great pliability of body. They ufe no clothing except a flip of calico, not larger than a fig leaf, tied with a coarse ftring round their loins. Some of them, however, wore ftraw caps, of their own manufacture, in form refembling Grecian helmets. Their countenances prefented an afpect of undifguifed nature, and rural innocence rarely to be seen. In their national character, they are quiet, peaceable, harmless, contented, and ftrongly marked by habitual taciturnity.' I. 305, 306.

This elegant race lived in a state of the utmost poverty till Colonel Barbut found occupation for their industry. At Jaffnapatam Mr Cordiner is quite in his element; and becomes perfectly eloquent in describing the beauty and affability of Mrs Barbut, the elegance of her parties, and the goodness of her dinners. Our author, after having made so easy and delightful a tour, at last meets with a few hardships on his return to Columbo. The north-east monsoon was then deluging the country through which he passed, and his palanquin bearers waded a great part of the way in deep water. Mr Cordiner and one of his companions grew weary of this work, and got a small vessel at Manaar, in which they embarked for the peninsula of Calpenteen. In passing through Chilauw, they visited old Mr Keuneman the commandant, a Dutchman, who, on account of his valuable character, had been continued in his office by the British government. They found him seated among a party of Dutch gentlemen enjoying the fumes of tobacco. His style of living was to rise at four o'clock in the morning, smoke a pipe, and drink a cup of coffee by candle-light; breakfast at seven, dine at noon, sup at seven in the evening, and retire to rest betwixt eight and nine.' Negombo was their next station, from which a day's journey, through a very rich country, brought them to Columbo. The first volume concludes with a brief account of the vegetables and animals of this island, and a detail of the process employed in collecting

collecting and preparing the cinnamon; from which it does not seem necessary to make any extract.

The second volume contains an account of the author's expe dition to the sacred island and pagoda of Ramiseram, and of the pearl-fishery at Arripo. Annexed are extracts from the journals of some of the gentlemen of the establishment, and a sketch of the campaign against the king of Candy in 1803. A brief abstract of these articles may be acceptable to most of our readers.

It

Ramiseram, the holy island of Rama, is situate at the northern extremity of Ceylon, about twenty miles from the shore. is a low flat island, about twenty miles in circumference, and may be considered as the most southerly pier of that series of shoals and coral rocks which, under the name of Rama's, or Adam's bridge, serves to connect Ceylon with the coast of Coromandel. The whole island is dedicated to the purposes of religion; no plough is allowed to break the soil; and no animal, either wild or tame, to be killed within its precincts. It is inhabited chiefly by priests, who are supported in luxury by the produce of certain lands in Coromandel, and the donations of pious individuals; and by immense crowds of pilgrims, jugglers, and beggars, who resort to it from all parts of India, to implore absolution for their sins, or to take advantage of the momentary charity of the richer penitents. It is provided with a great variety of large choultries, built with arches and pillars, by devout persons, for the accommodation of the pilgrims, and adorned with a multitude of beautiful temples, besides the great pagoda, which forms the chief object of curiosity and veneration. The roads are almost all most beautifully paved with smooth stones six feet in length, and shaded by rows of majestic trees, each surrounded with seats of hewn stone. All these, as well as the tanks or reservoirs of water, are kept with the most admirable order; and the houses of the inhabitants are much more substantial and comfortable than in any other part of India. There is no military establishment-no trade, toil or bustle over the whole island--but an appearance every where of opulence, security, and holy repose, that must be extremely interesting. The pagoda itself, which seems to be a vast structure, is not very clearly described by Mr Cordiner: some of our readers, however, may be able to make more of it than we can do.

• On entering the weft gate, a low gallery, one hundred and fortyfour feet in length, with three rows of pillars on each fide, leads down the centre of the building, after which it branches off, in galleries fimilarly constructed, to the right and left, each extending one hundred and fifty feet, then running from weft to east five hundred feet, and enclose ing an oblong rectangular space: the two ends of the pagoda exactly correfpond. The gallery, at the fame time, runs down the centre of the

temple