[Illustration: Peacock Mountain, Ceylon.]
On my arrival at the house I found that Mabelle had just returned
with some friends, who had kindly taken charge of her during our
absence, and that a very old friend had arrived almost directly we
left on Monday, and had departed early this morning to climb Adam's
Peak, the ascent of which is a long and tedious affair, but it cannot
be difficult, as thousands of aged and infirm pilgrims go every year
to worship at the Buddhist or Mohammedan temples at the summit. The
giant footprint has been reverenced alike by both religions from the
earliest ages. Its existence is differently accounted for, however, by
the two sects. The Buddhists say it is the footprint of Buddha, and
that an account of its origin was written 300 or 400 years B.C. The
Mohammedans say that it is the first step Adam took when driven out of
Paradise. They do not quarrel about it, however, but live very happily
close beside one another in their respective temples on the very small
summit of the mountain. The iron chains, still used by the pilgrims
and visitors to assist them up the last weary flight of steps, are
said to have been placed there in the time of Alexander the Great, and
are mentioned by successive historians.
After lunch I went to rest, thoroughly tired out with the hard work of
the last two days, whilst the gentlemen went into Kandy, to see
Buddha's tooth and a Brahmin temple.
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