Point de Galle.--An Ancient Port, now mostly deserted.--Dangerous Harbor.--Environs of the City a Tropical Garden.--Paradise of Ferns and Orchids.--Neptune's Gardens.--Tides of the Ocean.--Severe Penalties.--Floating Islands of Seaweed.--Fable, like History, repeats itself.--Chewing the Betelnut.--An Asiatic Habit.--All Nations seek Some Stimulant.--Soil near Galle.--Cinnamon Stones.--Diamonds.--Workers in Tortoise-Shell.--Millions of Fruitful Palms.--Sanitary Conditions of Galle 292
Dondra Head.--"The City of the Gods."--A Vast Temple.--A Statue of Solid Gold.--A Famous Rock-Temple.--Buddhist Monastery.--Caltura and its Distilleries.--Edible Bird's Nests.--Basket-Making.--The Kaluganga.--Cinnamon Gardens.--"The City of Gems."--A Magnificent Ruby.--The True Cat's-Eye.--Vast Riches hidden in the Mountains.--Plumbago Mining.--Iron Ore.--Kaolin.--Gem Cutting.--Native Swindlers.--Demoralizing Effect of Gem Digging 307
Circumnavigating the Island.--Batticaloa, Capital of the Eastern Province.--Rice Culture.--Fish Shooting.--Point Pedro.--Jaffna.--Northern Province.--Oriental Bazaars.--Milk ignored.--The Clear Sea and White, Sandy Bottom.--American Missionaries.--A Medical Bureau.--Self-Respect a Lost Virtue.--Snake-Temples.--Ramisseram.--Adam's Bridge.--A Huge Hindu Temple.--Island of Manaar.--Aripo.--The Port of Negombo.--Tamil Coolies.--Homeward Bound.--A Farewell View 323
Introductory.--Coming from the Eastward.--Interesting Ocean Phenomena.--Denizens of the Sea.--Bird Travelers.--Delusive Mirage.--A Thrilling Adventure.--Prompt Seamanship.--A Struggle for Life.--Dust of the Sea.--A Dangerous Wreck.--Night Watches.--Sighting the Island of Ceylon.--Adam's Peak, among the Clouds.--A Beautiful Shore.--Steamers and Sailing Ships.--Curious Native Boats.--Singhalese Pedlers.--A Catamaran.--Tempting of Providence.--An Author's Position.
After a pleasant sojourn in China and Japan, with Ceylon as his objective point, the author came westward by way of the Malacca Straits, crossing the Indian Ocean on a line of about the eighth degree of north latitude. It is a lonely expanse of water, in traversing which plenty of time was found for meditation. The equatorial rains, though brief, were at times so profuse during the voyage as to suggest the possibility of a second universal flood, and also the advantage which might accrue from being web-footed; but the air was mostly soft and balmy, the nights were gloriously serene and bright. The transparency of the atmosphere magnified to dazzling proportions the constellations which looked down so serenely upon us, while the moon seemed to have taken a position vastly nearer to the earth than is its wont at the north. The phosphorescent waves tossed glowing gems, like fire-opals, about the ship's hull, while setting our long wake ablaze with flashing light, and producing a Milky Way as luminous as that above in the blue ether. All phosphorescent matter requires friction to infuse it with light, and so the thoroughly impregnated waters were churned into liquid fire by our vigorous and swift-revolving propeller. What millions upon millions of animalcules, and these again multiplied, must contribute to produce this aquatic illumination. During the day, large turtles, schools of dolphins, flying-fish, occasional water snakes, together with whole shoals of jelly-fish, were encountered on the widespread tropical sea. At times, myriads of the fairy-like nautilus floated past in gossamer frames, while in savage contrast, voracious man-eating sharks followed the ship close upon either quarter, in eager watchfulness for human prey. How terribly significant is the upright dorsal fin of this creature, seen just above the surface of the water, indicating the hideous, slate-colored body which glides swiftly and stealthily below!