The heat was
intense, and there was a roll outside which at once made me feel very
uncomfortable. There was no wind all the afternoon, and the sun sank
into the sea, glorious and golden, as we took our last look at the
lovely island of Ceylon, the land of spice and fragrance and beauty.
CHAPTER XXVI.
TO ADEN.
_Heaven speed the canvas, gallantly unfurled_
_To furnish and accommodate a world,_
_To give the Pole the produce of the sun,_
_And knit the unsocial climates into one._
_Friday, April 6th_.--Our visit to Ceylon has been so delightful that
I wish it could have been prolonged for a month, instead of lasting
only a week; but in that case I should have preferred to select a
cooler season of the year, when travelling is more practicable. A most
interesting journey could be made through the centre of the island to
see the ancient cities, temples, and tanks, over the road from Matelle
to Nalandi Senadoora, to the curious rock temple at Dambool, near
which is the fortified rock of Sigiri, and a few miles further are the
vast ruins of Topari, or Ponamira, the mediaeval capital of Ceylon. It
is full of wonderful ruins, some of them among the oldest in the
world. The Ranhol Dagoba, the Jayti Wana Rama, and the Galle Wihara
and rock temple, carved out of the living rock, are alone worth a long
journey to see.
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