lential air, which is generated and encouraged there, has been the means of preventing the British arms from taking possession of that rich and valuable settlement.

Nothing about Columbo is more apt to excite admiration than the flourishing state of the vegetable world. So much beauty and variety are in few countries equalled, and no where excelled. The thick shade of majestic trees, the open prospects, the lively verdure, the flowering shrubs, and parasitic creepers, unite their charms to render the morning rides delightful. To describe the variegated scenery, the different appearances of the trees, the ornamental shrubs, the perpetual summer, and never-ceasing spring, is a task which language cannot adequately perform. But the efforts of an able pencil, industriously employed, might be attended with better success; and the artist, who could do justice to the scenes, would be ravished with exquisite transport, whilst he exercised his art for the advantage of the public.

Some groups of Ceylon foliage were happily imitated by the pencil of Mr. Salt, secretary to Lord Viscount Valentia, during his short residence at Columbo, in January, 1804. In these the dense and luxuriant foliage of the jack-tree is beautifully blended with the waving leaves of the cocoa, while the foreground is embellished with the silken plantain.

No climate in the world is more salubrious than that of Columbo: and a person, who remains within doors while

the sun is powerful, never wishes to experience one more temperate. During five years residence there I rarely heard of any person being sick, unless those whose illness was caught in the interior of the country. Before the commencement of hostilities with the king of Candy in 1803, a funeral was not a common occurrence at Columbo: and out of a thousand British soldiers, it often happened that one man was not lost in the space of two months. The air is, at all times, pure and healthy, and its temperature uncommonly uniform. Farenheit's thermometer usually fluctuates in the shade about the point of 80o. It seldom ranges more than five degrees in a day, and only thirteen through the whole year, 86° being the highest, and 73° the lowest, point, at which it has been seen in any season. The healthiness of this place may be ascribed to its dry and insulated situation, to the regular prevalence of the land and sea breezes, to its partaking of the salutary influence of both monsoons, and to the refreshing showers which fall every month in the year, cooling the air, and cherishing perpetual verdure. Three weeks of uninterrupted fair weather are rarely experienced: and a long continuance of rain is entirely unknown. Dirty streets or heavy roads are never to be seen. The soil is so dry that moisture is rapidly absorbed. When it rains at night, the following morning is always ushered in with sun-shine: when it rains in the morning, the evening never fails to be serene and pleasant. Ac

cording to this order, rain falls, for some weeks, at one time, every morning about sun-rise, and at another time, every evening before sun-set.

The climate and scenery of Columbo form a striking contrast with the arid plains, withered vegetation, scorching winds, and clouds of burning dust, which, for several months in the year, cast an inhospitable gloom around the vicinity of Madras. There, in the month of May, 1804, Farenheit's thermometer appeared above ninety degrees before nine o'clock in the morning, and, in the course of the day, rose in many houses to one hundred and nine degrees. Other houses were rendered cooler by the use of tatties, thick skreens of straw placed round the verandas, on which water is constantly thrown, by native servants, during the hot hours. The air passing through this moisture becomes delightfully refreshing, and enables the better sort of inhabitants to enjoy comfort in the midst of general desolation. The smallest inconvenience from heat is never felt within 'doors at Columbo. Even under the full blaze of the meridian sun, the air is ten degrees cooler than that of Madras: and European gentlemen often find it pleasant to walk out, and to drive in open carriages at that hour. There is then always a fresh breeze from the sea, which greatly lessens the effects of the sun's power. But as recreation and delight are not the only objects sought after by adventurers in the

torrid zone; the tide of wealth on the coast of Coromandel supplies it with advantages of which Ceylon cannot boast.

Columbo is, by far, the most eligible place of residence in the island. Besides the superiority of climate, it possesses an agreeable mixture of society, which cannot be enjoyed in the more confined circles of the other stations.

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EUROPEAN INHABITANTS OF COLUMBO-BRITISH GARRISONGENERAL STAFF COURTS OF JUDICATURE-COUNCIL ENGLISH SOCIETY-WEEKLY CLUBS-EXPENCE OF LIVINGDEPARTURE OF GOVERNOR NORTH-DUTCH AND PORTUGUESE INHABITANTS.

THE usual garrison in Columbo is one regiment of British soldiers, one regiment of Sepoys, or Malays, one company of artillery with their complement of gun-lascars, and a small corps of native pioneers. To the above establishment, a body of seven hundred Caffrees has been lately added, and formed into a regiment. Many of them were slaves at the Portuguese settlement of Goa on the coast of Malabar, where they were purchased by our government. They rejoice exceedingly at the change in their situation, and, under the active discipline of Major John Willson, promise to become brave and hardy soldiers. They are all nominally Roman Catholic Christians, and certainly know nothing of any other religion. On Sundays they march to the Portuguese church, which is a neat and commodious

VOL. I.

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