Putallom Salt-works—Nigumbo—-Fishery there—Mor^h o f fjie
British Troops from Nigumbo— Surrender o f Colwmbo. |
T h e coast, as you pass along from Manaar to Colombo,
presents in .general nothing but-Tthe most desert and barren
appearance, except where it is covered by almost impenetrable
jungles. A great variety of" curious shells - a fi;TJndeed
found along the shores,' some of them valuable. 'T h e oyster
shells themselves are a species , mother-of-pearl in th#-inside,
the surface of which is so .indented ;with tmeyern-dines, that
when paint or inkT is rubbed; over it and th en ; g ently‘wipbd
off, if leaves behind figures of birds, treCs, n0 i?S beads, and
such like; appearances, owing to its sinking in to -the 7 cavities.
The distance from Manaar to Columbo is upwards of oSe
hundred and fifty miles. A few smalh'paces odbur in the way,
where detachments are posteti for the protection of travellers.
Most o f . the . road is extremely bad, and the country-
much infested with buffaloes and elephants; in, tHe'-track
which lies between Manaar and Chilou in particular, where
the jungle comes down to the very : shore, and no .other way
is to be found for a considerable distance but narrow paths
which pass through it, "these animals often present themselves
in the road to the great annoyance of travellers. Other
obstacles also occur in this journey. At Pomparipo a broad
lake is to' be passed, which becomes impossible during the
rainy season. There are besides in the way two or three broad
SSII
«ver», as tire Mosulee and Madragarjl which issue from thé
mountains in the -interior. 1
The? first post you.!;pöihè Calpentecn, opposii&n-to a
small island of the isanS© -name, which, lies a little way.*- out at
sea. A company oEi.twofwff Malays'is stationed heie-; and,
when I left, -the island, i t , wasc^mmaiided ■ by i ” Dufeif officer
who had entered into our< s'er,yi;c^ Si tv ere <d thre
ment fróm «gmtaBnor JfortK. i-This isobne^of the,-bfesffpkces
©n.the,.whole .island for -gamehi
# Putallom, ;which,lie&©f>dam distant, is remarkable for. its
salt-pans//qTshis.plape, \befotee the .atrivai of EuropêaÉs^Vm' the
island,, supplied,Itihe natiyes .with j s a lt; uudl ' : ^ 4ateepuiif)>
convenient situation, was- pitched upon! by 'thVfHffch.tfor tna-
rnfacturing tlifebak with which t.-fhey' supplied- the Kiftg&d#
Candy’s dominions, naecording -to < the artioles of thWr treat
With him. The salt-pans aVe formed by -an:-,, arm óf the' .Sea
which- overflows part off „the country between 'P u tó lê’m'.^a'iïd
C alpenteen, Jk very -large, quantity of salt was mantóèturédl
here by. the ' Hutch;- they' feoked upon it ; a s .o f ' th e highest
h n p w ta n c e ^ ^ lh e ir interests! in. the island,' -andAthfc'.imbsfc
formidable weapon which .it .was ire théfe- power tp eitipidy
against • the native King,u; as i t was impossible* fó r' him tcipro^
eme, any but' through-! their means. Since wfe" hkyefibbtaintd
possession; of the island d&s manufacture! has <en-^
thely^ neglected. *It is capable, however óf bteirig* rendered te ry
profitable,, as itt is the; only one of the kind, on this* -^icfo off
the .yslapd, and,.the mosf cbnvemently* situated ’ for > s$J)ply-y
if g .thferd^Kg of Caiidy’& >dominions. Tfe<f| Dntcfe> ehactedK
Weyere laws to- . preveisflry individuals frftreff man^ihfèthi'i'if g W
trading in this article,-.'the government taking upon itsylfe