X544(4)

PLATE IV.THE LAKE And SLAVE ISLAND,FROM THE GLACIS.

The Lake of Colombo is a fine piece of water, supplied by several small tributary streams, and extending, as has already been said, from the glacis of the Fort, four or five miles in a north-easterly direction. It communicates, by means of canals, with the Kalany ganga, near the bridge of boats, and so with Negombo, northwards ; with the lake of Bolgodde, the Pantura river, or estuary, and thus with the Kalu ganga near Caltura, southwards ; affording great facilities for internal communication, which might be most advantageously extended without much labour or expense. The lake forms one of the greatest attractions of Colombo, and by its margin stand some of the most delightful residences in the Island; whilst its waters afford the favourite and healthful recreation of boating, in all its branches, to the officers of the garrison and the other European inhabitants. An annual regatta was established some years ago, and on these occasions the lake puts on a most gay and animated appearance, the number of yachts and sailing-boats having considerably increased in consequence of the promotion of this truly English aquatic amusement.

A native canoe being introduced, a description of these peculiar boats may here be given. Their construction is very simple, but has been allowed by scientific nautical men to be that best adapted to give the greatest swiftness to a sailing machine. The lower or main part is formed of the trunk of a cocoa-nut tree hollowed out, being about fifteen feet in length, and so narrow that a man can hardly squeeze his legs into it, being contracted at top, and widening towards the centre. Along the upper edges a row of planks is sewed on (no nails being used by the natives in the construction of their canoes, or dhoneys), to raise them above the surface of the water; and to prevent the canoe from capsizing, a log of very light wood is secured to it, in a parallel direction, at the distance of about six feet, by means of two arched elastic stays, or bands formed of bamboo or other pliant branches lashed together, on which, when there are more than two persons in the boat, one of them generally sits or stands, holding on by the mast. It has one very large square sail, supported by two slender masts or poles, one in an upright position, the other angular with it, working in a grummet of rope attached to the former. From the tops of these poles ropes extend to the outrigger, steadying them; and both masts and sails can be struck or hoisted instantaneously. The canoe is steered by means of a paddle fixed over the stern, which the fisherman occasionally manages with his foot, keeping both hands free for fishing, whilst the second person, generally a boy, keeps constantly wetting the sail, to make it hold the wind better, and it is wonderful how close to the wind they can go. The fishermen daily venture out to sea ten or fifteen miles, and an accident rarely occurs, as the canoe cannot sink, even if filled with water, and as long as the outrigger remains firm they are safe.

In the midst of the lake stands Slave Island, so called by the Dutch from their keeping their sick and refractory slaves there. One end of it is adjacent to and communicates with the Fort, as already stated, and it affords the nearest way from thence to the cinnamon gardens, from which it is only separated by a narrow brook, or bourne. Here are barracks for six or eight companies of the Ceylon rifle regiment, under the second senior officer, the head-quarters of which have, of late years, been established in Kandy, and also for a division of the gun-lascars attached to the royal artillery. The island, or more properly islet, is delightfully shaded by fine groves of cocoa-nut trees, and contains many pleasant and commodious, and some elegant residences, foremost amongst which stands " Kew," a fine house by the side of the lake, with spacious grounds, once forming a botanical garden, and still containing some beautiful trees and shrubs. The house is said to have been originally built by the Dutch for a masonic lodge, and up to the time of the author's departure from Ceylon, in July, 1837, it was appropriated as the residence of the Major-General commanding the forces (now Lieutenant-General), Sir John Wilson, K.C.B.