"Sir-Pada."

The "Sir-pada" or sacred footprint of Adam, according to the Mohammedans, or of Buddha, according to the Buddhists, is on the top of Adam's Peak, in the southwest corner of Ceylon. The Peak is seven thousand four hundred feet high, and, though not the highest, is the most conspicuous mountain peak on the island. It stands like a great outpost, or sentinel, and can be seen far out at sea. Mohammedans tell us that Adam reached heaven by jumping from this mountain peak, while the Buddhists claim the same for Buddha. For at least two thousand years, and without doubt for centuries before, pilgrims have climbed this mountain peak in Ceylon to burn incense or to strew flowers before this natural altar. The ascent of the mountain is made on horseback. The road winds up hills and across valleys, and through a jungle so dense that for more than half the way the sunlight is obscured, and at every turn the traveler is greeted with a new surprise. Even the jungle is not desolate; wild elephants, wild pigs, leopards, and other animals of the tropics may be encountered. Fine views are presented of the plains below, and the distant hills are covered with tropical verdure. In some places the road winds around cliffs so steep that stones from beneath the horses' hoofs can be heard for several minutes rolling down into the depths below. The approach to the final cone is by steps cut into the solid rock; chains, with links six inches long, are suspended at the most difficult places; these chains are centuries old. Resting-sheds and cabins are provided, though these have now nearly fallen into decay. The decay of these mountain cabins testifies that the great pilgrim shrine of Adam's Peak has fallen into neglect, and that only the curious explorer or the unenlightened now climbs the weary way. On reaching the summit the traveler finds a little terrace surrounded by a low wall. On one side of the terrace is a little temple on the top of a great rock, fastened down by iron chains that pass over the roof. This contains the "Sir-pada" or "sacred footprint" of Adam, or Buddha. Whoever stepped from earth into the heaven beyond from this point must have been a man of unusual stature, since the sacred footprint is five feet long and two and a half feet broad. It was formerly covered with gold, which was stolen several centuries ago; it is now covered with brass. But, tradition aside, the scene alone, viewed from Adam's Peak, cannot but inspire a feeling of awe and reverence. The descent from the mountain peak is more difficult than the ascent; but few now attempt to climb the weary way.