The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-02-14
BENTON, LOUISIANA,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY Ia, 1895.
The Pearl Of India.

By MAruR1N NJ. BALLou. Boston:
Houghten, Mifflin & Co. 81 so.
Mr. Ballou seems to be devoting
at present to the islands OF
the globe. We have already had from
him q book aboat Cuba, and one on
Malta, and now he comes again to
the front with volume about Ceylon,
the "Pearl of India" as it is called
by its English comprehensive Lanka
Dwipe-resplendent island-of the
Hindus. Ceylon was known to trav-
elers and writers ages ago. 1t is
supposed to have been the Ophir OF
the Hebrews, and a recent writer
claims to have found in the Septua-
gint "Serendib," the Arabic name
for Ceylon, used in Genesis viii, 4,
instead Of Ararat, to indicate the spot
where Noah's ark rested after the
deluge. In coroboration of this sug-
gested re-reading OF sacred history
or legend-it is to be noted that &C
cording to Mahommedan tradition,
Adam and Eve found refuge in Cey-
lon when driven out of the primitive
garden, and Marco Polo alludes to q
legend, apparently no longer current,
that Adams peak, the most famous,
though not the most lofty peak on
the island, contained the tomb OF our
first father. An irregular cavity in
the rock at its summit is variously
reputed to be the footprint of Adam,
Of silva. and of Buddha, according to
the religious proclivities of the pill
grim who comes hither to worship in
what all have agreed to hold az
holy place.
According to Buddhist priests the
spot has been four times consecrated
by the pressure of the sacred feet of
four Buddahs, the first having visited
it 30O1 years B. G., while the last,
Gautama, assembled thence to heaven
SIT B. G. Western pilgrims are also
attracted to the peak, not by religious
associations, but to enjoy the mag
nifcent view from its summit, aud
also to witness a singular atmospher-
10 phenomenon, visible only at sun
riae. As the great day star climbs
the eastern slope "there suddenly
appears upon the western sky the
vast reflex OF the peak as clearly de-
fined as though second and precise
II similar mountain were actually
there. Through the shadow, which
seems to have some peculiar telescop-
10 effect upon the atmosphere, one
sees Colombo distinctly, though it is
nearly fifty miles away. As the sun
rises higher, the great mysterious
shadow fades slowly away like a
ghostly phantom, growing less and
less distinct, until presently the west
- also suffused with the waking and
regal glow of the morning"
The cave temples, bewn out of the
primitive rocks, and the ruins of its
ancient capitals, prove Ceylon to
have been in some far past age the
seat Of q powerful and highly civiliz-
cd people. Anursdhapura, an ancient
city now in ruins, where ninety kings
Ieigned in succession, covered an
area greater than that of London
This city was named for Prince
Arunadha, it's founder, who is said
10 have lived $500 years ago, and at
. time when England was still in a
state Of barbarism it's three million
inhabitants lived in luxurious ease.
The following description of the me-
tropolis in its prime is literal trans
lAtion from an ancient native chroni-
Gle:
"Ths magnificent city of Anura.
dhapurs is refulgent from the nu-
nerons temples and palaces whose
golden pinnaclea glitter in the sky.
The sides Of its streets are strewn
with black sand; they are spanned
with arches bearing flags of gold and
silver; on either side are vessels OF
The Same precious metals, containing
flowers; and in inches are statutes
holding lamps Of great value. In the
street. are multitudes of people, arm
cd with bows and arrows; also men
powerful as gods, who with their
huge swords could cut assunded a
tusk elephant at one blow. Ele-
phants, horses, carts and myriads OF
people are constantly passing and
repassing. There are iugglers, dane
era and musicians Of various nations,
whose chank shells and other sacred
instruments are ornamented with
gold. The distance from the princi-
pal gate to the opposite gate is foul
Rsws sixteen miles,; and from the
north gate to the south gate four
gaws. The principil streets are Moon
street, Great King street and Great
Sandy street. In Chandrawakkawidi.
- arc II, 600 houses, many of them