168 a d a m ’s p e a k .
Arnold (“ India Revisited,” p. 300), female infanticide,
which fifty years ago was a common practice in many
districts of India, has, it is feared, been again resumed.
Frequently a woman will marry three or four brothers,
all living under the same roof, thus saving the expense
of so many separate establishments.
We must now, however, proceed on our journey, the
contents of a green cocoanut and a few excellent oranges
having been despatched whilst waiting at the station.
Here the ascent commenced, and with the help of two
engines continued for more than an hour. During
th a t time we passed through lovely mountain scenery;
a t first the higher range appeared in the distance, in
the midst of which, on our right, the famous Adam’s
Peak, the most prominent, although not the highest
point, which latter is the Pedrotallagalla, 8,230 feet,
besides two others somewhat lower. Adam’s peak
rises 7,420 feet above sea-level, and on its summit the
priests have erected a hut, where they show the Sri-
pada or sacred footstep, sixty-four inches by thirty
inches. Here pilgrims assemble on special days in
large numbers. Adam, on leaving paradise, is said
to have touched the spot with one foot, according to
others Buddha did so, during one of his three visits to
the island.
The mountains of Ceylon appear as spurs or separate
UP-HILL JOURNEY.
masses of rock, and are well wooded to the very top.
Here and there one passes clusters of thatched
•cottages half hidden by the surrounding vegetation;
below, the eye rests upon a broad valley extending
far beyond the deep ravine cut precipitously into the
hill side. Presently there rises a black granite wall
to a height of several hundred feet, concealing the
sun in his downward course and for a moment obscuring
every other object. Here we enter a tunnel,
and on emerging from it there opens out a perfect
fairy-land, as the train leaps from hill to hill passing
in review the most varied hits of scenery. Trees of
■enormous height and girth, apparently groaning unde
the weight of foliage, often in full blossom of white
and crimson or else crowded with fruit; palms of
every variety, the Jack and the Bread-fruit tree with
their handsome large leaves, held prisoners in the .
embrace of some enormous creeper, and as we pass
through a thick jungle, a mass of palmetto and. fern
trees gracefully bend their wavy leaves to the breeze.
Cascades and rivulets tear down the mountain
creeks, every cone and peak becomes separated by
floating clouds, and below it all is the beautiful valley
of Kaduganawa, receiving' the last rays of the setting
sun. The latter presented a sublime picture ; at first
the sky assumed the purest transparent blue with