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[Page 14]
as in similar situations in the District of Colombo: Within one mile of Barberyn, where the shore becomes rugged and steep the road leads over some considerable Kabooc hills and intermediate marshes where the Pandanus fasicularis grows in great plenty to the size of a small tree, It is not confined to low situations but seen on the hills high above our heads, but I have never seen it at any great distance from the sea shore. In pure sand and within the reach of the seas grows the crinum asiaticum in fruit and also the Convolvulus Pes-capræ in large patches which contributes much to the protection of Travellers from the clouds of sand which would otherwise overwhelm them during the high winds.-
The vinca rosea so common near Colombo is not seen here, On the sea Beach near Barberyn we passed many Fishermen drying and mending their coir nets of various sizes to flot which they use the wood of the Melia Azedarah. The Moomen were also busily employed in filling the Joints of their Donies with the deried leaves of the Cyperus fastigiatus, and sewing the planks together with coir strings About halfway between Barberyn and Bentotte I found the Dolichos giganteus, twining round high Jungle trees and also round the live Hedges of Hibiscus tiliaceus. I have been told this species was introduced in to the Botanic Garden at Colombo by Dr. Roxburgh but I now think we may put it down as Indigenous to Ceylon together with Hydrophylax maritima, Spinifex squrrosa, which grows here and also in the beach near Colombo:
A little beyond the village of Bentotte I collected seeds of Boehemeria interrupta, Phlomis, biflora Hedysarum strobiliferum, Oldenlandia depressa, and plants of the Lobelia zeylanica; Xyris indica, Gratiola, Monneria, and tridentara, Impatiens triflora, Sophora tomentosa, Barleria prionitis - The Bentotte river is no more than an arm of the sea and purely salt many plants grow at some distance in the water and Cocoanut trees thrive very well even in the situation and particularly the