Tattanour bravely situate for all conveniences excellently well watered The Kings Palace stands on the East corner of the City as is customary in this Land for the Kings Palaces to stand This City is three-square like a Triangle but no artificial strength about it unless on the South side which is the easiest and openest way to it they have long since cast up a Bank of Earth cross the Valley from one Hill to the other which nevertheless is not so steep but that a man may easily go over it any where It may be some twenty foot in height In every Way to come to this City about two or three miles off from it are Thorn-Gates and Watches to examine all that go and come It is environed round with Hills The great River coming down from Adams Peak runs within less than a mile of it on the West side It has oftentimes been burnt by the Portuguez in their former Invasions of this Island together with the Kings Palace and the Temples Insomuch that the King has been fain to pay them a Tribute of three Elephants per annum The King left this City about Twenty Years ago and never since has come at it So that it is now quite gone to decay A second City is Nellemby-neur lying in Oudipollat South of Cande some Twelve miles distance Unto this the King retired and here kept his Court when he forsook Candy Thirdly The City Allout-neur on the North East of Cande Here this King was bornâ— here also he keeps great store of Corn and Salt c. against time of War or Trouble This is Situate in the Countrey of Bintan which Land I have never been at but have taken a view of from the top of a Mountain it seems to be smooth Land and not much hilly the great River runneth through the midst of it It is all over covered with mighty Woods and abundance of Deer But much subject to dry Weather and Sickness In these Woods is a sort of Wild People Inhabiting whom we shall speak of in their place Fourthly Badoula Eastward from Cande some two dayes Iourney the second City in this Land The Portugals in time of War burnt it down to the ground The Palace here is quite ruined the Pagodas onely remain in good repair This City stands in the Kingdom or Province of Ouvah which is a Countrey well watered the Land not smooth neither the Hills very high wood very scarce but what they plant about their Houses But great plenty of Cattle their Land void of wood being the more apt for grazing If theâ—e Cattle be carried to any other Parts in this Island they will commonly dye the reason whereof no man can tell onely they conjecture it is occasioned by a kind of small Tree or Shrub that grows in all Countreys but in Ouvah the Touch or Scent of which may be Poyson to the Ouvah Cattel though it is not so to other The Tree hath a pretty Physical smell like an Apothecaries Shop but no sort of Cattle will eat it In this Cuontry grows the best Tobacco that is on this Land Rice is more plenty here then most other things The fifth City is Digligy-neur towards the East of Cande lying in the Country of Hevahatt Where the King ever since he was routed from Nellemby in the Rebellion Anno 1664. hath held his Court. The scituation of this place is very Rocky and Mountainous the Lands Barren So that hardly a worse place could be found out in the whole Island Yet the King chose it partly because it lyes about the middle of his Kingdom but chiefly for his safety having the great Mountain Gauluda behind his Palace unto which he fled for Safety in the Rebellion being not only high but on the top of it lye three Towns and Corn Fields whence he may have necessary supplies and it is so fenced with steep Cliffs Rocks and Woods that a few men here will be able to defend themselves against a great Army There are besides these already mentioned several other ruinous places that do still retain the name of Cities where Kings have Reigned tho now little Foot-steps remaining of them At the North end of this Kings Dominions is one of these Ruinous Cities called Anurodgburro where they say Ninety Kings have Reigned the Spirits of whom they hold now to be Saints in Glory having merited it by making Pagoda's and Stone Pillars and Images to the honour of their Gods whereof there are many yet remaining which the Chingulayes count very meritorious to worship and the next way to Heaven Near by is a River by which we came when we made our escape all along which is abundance of hewed stones some long for Pillars some broad for paving Over this River there have been three Stone Bridges built upon Stone Pillars but now are fallen down and the Countrey all desolate without Inhabitants At this City of Anurodgburro is a Watch kept beyond which are no more people that yield obedience to the King of Candy This place is above Ninety miles to the Northward of the City of Candy In these Northern Parts there are no Hills nor but two or three Springs of running water so that their Corn ripeneth with the help of Rain There is a Port in the Countrey of Portaloon lying on the West side of this Island whence part of the Kings Countrey is supplyed with Salt and Fish where they have some small Trade with the Dutch who have a Fort upon the Point to prevent Boats from coming But the Eastern Parts being too far and Hilly to drive Cattel thither for Salt Gods Providence hath provided them a place on the East side nearer them which in their Language they call Leawava Where the Eastwardly Winds blowing the Sea beats in and in Westwardly Winds being then fair weather there it becomes Salt and that in such abundance that they have as much as they please to fetch This Place of Leawava is so contrived by the Providence of the Almighty Creator that neither the Portuguez nor Dutch in all the time of their Wars could ever prevent this People from having the benefit of this Salt which is the principal thing that they esteem in time of Trouble or War and most of them do keep by them a store of Salt against such times It is as I have heard environed with Hills on the Land side and by Sea not convenient for Ships to ride and very sickly which they do impute to the power of a great God who dwelleth near by in a Town they call Cotteragâ—m standing in the Road to whom all that go to fetch Salt both small and great must give an Offering The Name and Power of this God striketh such terror into the Chingulayes that those who otherwise are Enemies to this King and have served both Portuguez and Dutch against him yet would never assist either to make Invasions
that Land If any desire to know how this white Deer was caught it was thus This Deer was observed to come on Evenings with the rest of the Herd to a great Pond to drink the People that were ordered to catch this Deer fenced the Pond round and plain about it with high stakes leaving onely one wide gap The men after this done lay in ambush each with his bundle of Stakes ready cut In the Evening the Deer came with the rest of the Herd to drink according to their wont As soon as they were entred within the stakes the men in ambush fell to their work which was to fence in the gap left which there being little less than a Thousand men they soon did and so all the Herd were easily caught and this among the rest The King hath also an Elephant spotted or speckled all the body over which was lately caught and tho he hath many and very stately Elephants and may have as many more as he pleases yet he prefers this before them all And since I am fallen upon discourse of the Elephant the creature that this Countrey is famed for above any in India I will detain my self a little longer upon it I will first relate the manner of taking them and afterwards their Sagacity with other things that occur to my memory concerning them This Beast tho he be so big and wise yet he is easily catched When the King commands to catch Elephants after they have found them they like that is such as have Teeth for tho there be many in the Woods yet but few have Teeth and they males onely unto these they drive some She-Elephants which they bring with them for the purpose which when once the males have got a sight of they will never leave but follow them wheresoever they go and the females are so used to it that they will do whatsoever either by a word or a beck their Keepers bid them and so they delude them along thro Towns and Countreys thro the Streets of the City even to the very Gates of the Kings Palace Where sometimes they seize upon them by snares and sometimes by driving them into a kind of Pound they catch them After they have brought the Elephant which is not yet caught together with the She into the Kings presence if it likes him not he commands to let him go if it does he appoints him some certain place near unto the City where they are to drive him with the Females for without them it is not possible to make him stay and to keep him in that place until the Kings further order and pleasure is to catch him which perhaps may not be in two or three or four Years All which time there are great men with Souldiers appointed to watch there about him and if he should chance to stray a little out of his bounds set by the King immediately they bring him back fearing the Kings displeasure which is no less than death it self Here these Elephants do and may do great dammage to the Country by eating up their Corn and trampling it with their broad feet and throwing down their Coker Nut Trees and oftentimes their Houses too and they may not resist them It is thought this is done by the King to punish them that ly under his displeasure And if you ask what becomes of these Elephants at last sometimes after they have thus kept watch over them two or three Years and destroyed the Countrey in this manner the King will send order to carry them into the Woods and let them go free For he catcheth them not for any use or benefit he hath by them but onely for his recreation and pastime As he is the greatest in body so in understanding also For he will do any thing that his Keeper bids him which is possible for a Beast not having hands to do And as the Chingulayes report they bear the greatest love to their young of all irrational Creatures for the Shee s are alike tender of any ones young ones as of their own where there are many She Elephants together the young ones go and suck of any as well as of their Mothers and if a young one be in distress and should cry out they will all in general run to the help and aid thereof and if they be goâ—ng over a River as here be some somewhat broad and the streams run very swift they will all with their Trunks assist and help to convey the young ones over They take great delight to ly and tumble in the water and will swim excellently well Their Teeth they never shed Neither will they ever breed tame ones with tame ones but to ease themselves of the trouble to bring them meat they will ty their two fore-feet together and put them into the Woods where meeting with the wild ones they conceive and go one Year with young It is their constant practice to shove down with their heads great Trees which they love to eat when they be too high and they cannot otherwise reach the boughs Wild ones will run much faster than a man but tame ones not The People stand in fear of them and oftentimes are kill'd by them They do them also great dammage in their Grounds by Night coming into their Fields and eating up their Corn and likewise their Coâ—â—r-nut-Trees c. So that in Towns near unto the Woods where are plenty of them the people are forced to watch their Corn all Night and also their Outyards and Plantations into which being once entred with eating and trampling they will do much harm before they can get them out Who oftentimes when by lighting of Torches and hollowing they will not go out take their Bowes and go and shoot them but not without some hazard for sometimes the Elephant runs upon them and kills them For fear of which they will not adventure unless there be Trees about which they may dodg to defend themselves And altho here be both Bears and Tygers in these Woods yet they are not so fierce as commonly to assault people Travellers and Way-faring men go more in fear of Elephants than of any other Beasts An Execution by an Eliphant At some uncertain seasons the males have an infirmity comes on them that they will be stark mad so that none can rule them Many times it so comes to pass that they with their Keepers on their backs run raging until they throw them down and kill them but commonly there is notice of it before by an Oyl that will run out of their cheeks which when that appears immediately they chain them fast to great Trees by the Legs For this infirmity they use no Medicine neither is he sick but the females are never subject to this The Keepers of the Kings Elephants sometimes make a sport with them after this manner They will command an Elephant to take up water which he does and stands with it
there is any tidings to send the King they do not send in general together by consent but each one sends particularly by himself And their common custom and practice is to inform what they can one against another thinking thereby to obtain the most favour and good will from the King By this means there can nothing be done or said but he hath notice thereof Being in this manner sent forth they dare not return altho they have perâ—ormed and finished the Business they were sent upon until he send a special Order and Command to recall them When the Armies are sent abroad as he doth send them very often against the Dutch it goeth very hard with the Soldiers who must carry their Victuals and Pots to dress it in upon their Backs besides their Arms which are Swords Pikes Bows and Arrows and good Guns As for Tents for their Armies alwayes ly in the Fields they carry Tallipat leaves which are very light and convenient along with them With these they make their Tents Fixing sticks into the ground and laying other pieces of Wood overthwart after the manner of the roof of an House and so lay their leaves over all to shoot the Rains off Making these Tents stronger or slighter according to the time of their tarriance And having spent what Provisions they carried out with them they go home to fetch more So that after a Month or two a great part of the Army is always absent VVhensoever the King sends his Armies abroad upon any Expedition the Watches beyond them are all secured immediately to prevent any from passing to carry Intelligence to the Enemy The Soldiers themselves do not know the Design they are sent upon until they come there None can know his intentions or meaning by his actions For sometimes he sends Commanders with their Soldiers to ly in certain places in the Woods until farther order or until he send Ammunition to them And perhaps when they have laid there long enough he sends for them back again And after this manner oftentimes he catches the Hollanders before they be aware to their great prejudice and dammage He cares not that his great Men should be free-spirited or Valiant if there be any better than the rest them to be sure suddenly he cuts off lest they might do him any mischief In their War there is but little valour used altho they do accomplish many notable Exploits For all they do is by crafty Stratagems They will never meet their Enemies in the Field to give them a repulse by Battel and force of Arms neither is the Enemy like to meet with any opposition at their first goings out to invade the King's Coasts the King's Soldiers knowing the adverse Forces are at first wary and vigilant as also well provided with all Necessaries But their usual practice is to way lay them and stop up the wayes before them there being convenient places in all the Roads which they have contrived for such purposes And at these places the Woods are not suffered to be felled but kept to shelter them from the sight of their enemies Here they lye lurking and plant their Guns between the Rocks and Trees with which they do great damage to their Enemies before they are aware Nor can they then suddenly rush in upon them being so well guarded with Bushes and Rocks before them thro which â—efore their Enemies can get they flee carrying their great Guns upon their Shoulders and are gone into the Woodsâ— where it is impossible to find them until they come them selves to meet them after the former manner Likewise they prepare against the enemies coming great bushy Trees having them ready cut hanging only by wit hs which grow in the Wood these as they march along they let fall among them with many shot and Arrows Being sent upon any design they are very circumspect to keep it hidden from the Enemies knowledg by suffering only those to pass who may make for their Benefit and advantage their great endeavour being to take their Enemies unprovided and at unawares By the long wars first between them and the Portugueze and since with the Hollander they have had such ample experience as hath much improved them in the art of War above what they were formerly And many of the chief Commanders and Leaders of their Armies are men which formerly served the Portugueze against them By which they come to know the disposition and discipline of Christian Armies Insomuch as they have given the Dutch several overthrows and taken Forts from them which they had up in the Countrey Heretofore for bringing the head of an Enemy the King used to to gratify them with some reward but now the fashion is almost out of use The ordering of their battel is with great security there being very few lost in Fight For if they be not almost sure to win the battel they had rather not fight than run any hazzard of loosing it If his men do not successfully accomplish the design he sends them upon to be sure they shall have a lusty piece of work given them to take revenge on them for not using their weapons well he will exercise them with other tools houghs and pickaxes about his Palace And during the time they stay to work they must bring their Victuals with them not having monies there to buy They cannot carry for above one month and when their Provisions are all spent if they will have any more they must go home and fetch them But that is not permitted them without giving a Fee to the Governour or his Overseer Neither can they go without his leave for besides the punishment the Watches which are in every Road from the Kings City will stop and seize them CHAP. VII A Relation of the Rebellion made against the King FOr the Conclusion of this Part it will not be improper to relate here a dangerous rising of the People against the King It happened in the year 1664. About which time appeared a fearful Blazing-Star Iust at the Instant of the Rebellion the Star was right over our heads And one thing I very much wondred at which was that whereas before this Rebellion the Tail stood away toward the Westward from which side the Rebellion sprung the very night after for I very well observed it the Tail was turned and stood away toward the Eastward And by degrees it diminished quite away At this time I say the people of this land having been long and sore oppressed by this Kings unreasonable and cruel Government had contrived a Plot against him Which was to assault the Kings Court in the night and to slay him and to make the Prince his Son King He being then some twelve or fifteen years of age who was then with his Mother the Queen in the City oâ— Cande At this time the King held his Court in a City called Nillemby The Situation of which
time there are Dancers playing and shewing many pretty Tricks of Activity before him To see the which and also to shew themselves in their Bravery occasions more People to resort hither than otherwise their Zeal and Devotion would prompt them to do Two or thee days before the Full Moon each of these Gods hath a Pallenkine carried after them to add unto their honour In the which there are several pieces of their superstitious relicts and a Silver Pot. Which just at the hour of Full Moon they ride out unto a River and dip full of water which is carried back with them into the Temple where it is kept till the year after and then flung away And so the Ceremony is ended for that year This Festival of the Gods taking their Progress thro the City in the year 1664. the King would not permit to be performed and that same year the Rebellion happened but never since hath he hindred it At this time they have a Superstition which lasteth six or seven days too foolish to write it consists in Dancing Singing and Iugling The reason of which is lest the eyes of the People or the Power of the Iacco's or Infernal Spirits might any ways prove prejudicial or noisom to theaforesaid Gods in their Progress abroad During the Celebration of this great Festival there are no Drums allowed to be beaten to any particular Gods at any private Sacrifice In the Month of November the Night when the Moon is at the Full there is another great solemn Feast called in their Language Cawtha Poujah Which is celebrated only by lighting of Lamps round about the Pogada At which time they stick up the longest Poles they can get in the Woods at the Doors of the Pagods and of the King's Palace Upon which they make contrivances to set Lamps in rows one above the other even unto the very tops of the Poles which they call Tor-nes To maintain the charge hereof all the Countrey in general do contribute and bring in Oil. In this Poujah or Sacrifice the King seems to take delight The reason of which may be because he participates far more of the Honour than the Gods do in whose name it is celebrated his Palace being far more decked and adorned with high Poles and Lights than the Temples are This Ceremony lasteth but for one Night And these are their Anniversary Feasts to the honour of those Gods whose power extends to help them in this Life now follows the manner of their Service to the Buddou who it is they say that must save their Souls and the Festival in honour of him To represent the memorial of him to their eye they do make small Images of Silver Brass and Clay and Stone which they do honour with Sacrifices and Worship shewing all the signs of outward reverence which possibly they can In most places where there are hollow Rocks and Caves they do set up Images in memorial of this God Unto which they that are devoutly bent at New and Full Moons do carry Victuals and worship His great Festival is in the Month of March at their New-years Tide The Places where he is commemorated are two not Temples but the one a Mountain and the other a Tree either to the one or the other they at this time go with Wives and Children for Dignity and Merit one being esteemed equal with the other The Mountain is at the South end of the Countrey called Hammalella but by Christian People Adam's Peak the highest in the whole Island where as has been said before is the Print of the Buddou's foot which he left on the top of that Mountain in a Rock from whence he ascended to Heaven Unto this footstep they give worship light up Lamps and offer Sacrifices laying them upon it as upon an Altar The benefit of the Sacrifices that are offered here do belong unto the Moors Pilgrims who come over from the other Coast to beg this having been given them heretofore by a former King So that at that season there are great numbers of them always waiting there to receive their accustomed Fees The Tree is at the North end of the King's Dominions at Annarodgburro This Tree they say came flying over from the other Coast and there planted it self as it now stands under which the Buddou-God at his being on earth used as they say often to sit This is now become a place of solemn worship The due performance whereof they reckon not to be a little meritorious insomuch that as they report Ninety Kings have since reigned there successively where by the ruins that still remain it appears they spared not for pains and labour to build Temples and high Monuments to the honour of this God as if they had been born only to hew Rocks and great Stones and lay them up in heaps These Kings are now happy Spirits having merited it by these their labours Those whose Ability or Necessity serve them not to go to these Places may go to some private Vihars nearer For this God above all other they seem to have an high respect and Devotion as will appear by this that follows Ladies and Gentlewomen of good Quality will sometimes in a Fit of Devotion to the Buddou go a begging for him The greatest Ladies of all do not indeed go themselves but send their Maids dressed up finely in their stead These Women taking the Image along with them carry it upon the palms of their hand covered with a piece of white Cloth and so go to mens houses and will say We come a begging of your Charity for the Buddou towards his Sacrifice And the People are very liberal They give only of three things to him either Oyl for his Lamps or Rice for his Sacrifice or Money or Cotton Tarn for his use Poor men will often go about begging Sustenance for themselves by this means They will get a Book of Religion or a Buddou's Image in a Case wrapping both in a white Cloth which they carry with great reverence And then they beg in the name of the Book or the God And the People bow down to them and give their Charity either Corn or Money or Cotton yarn Sometimes they will tell the Beggar What have I to give And he will reply as the saying is as much as you can take up between your two fingers is Charity After he has received a gift from any he pronounceth a great deal of blessing upon him Let the blessing of the Gods and the Buddou go along with you let your Corn ripen let your Cattle increase let your Life be long câ— Some being devoutly disposed will make the Image of this God at their own charge For the making whereof they must bountifully reward the Founder Before the Eyes are made it is not accounted a God but a lump of ordinary Metal and thrown about the Shop with no more regard than any thing else But when the Eyes are to be made the
Palace three or four times before he comes out once And oftentimes he comes out when none there are aware of it with only those that attend on his person within his Palace And then when it is heard that his Majesty is come forth they all run ready to break their necks and place themselves at a distance to Guard his Person and wait his pleasure Sometimes but very seldom He comes forth riding upon an Horse or Elephant But usually he is brought out in a Pallâ—nkine which is nothing so well made as in other parts of India The ends of the Bambou it is carried by are largely tipped with Silver and curiously wrought and engraven for he hath very good workmen of that profession The place where he goeth when he comes thus abroad is to a Bankqueting-house built by a Pond side which he has made It is not above a Musquet shot from his Palace Where he goeth for his diversion Which I shall by and by more particularly relate Another instance of his State and Grandure will appear in his reception of Ambassadors Who are received with great honour and Show First he sends several of his great men to meet them with great Trains of Soldiers the ways all â—ut broad and the grass pared away for many miles Drums and Trumpets and Pipes and Flags going before them Victuals and all sorts of varieties are daily brought to them and continue to be so all the time they are in the Land and all at free-cost For the Custom here is Embassadors stay they never so long are maintained at the Kings Cost and Charges And being in the City have their Victuals brought them out from the Kings Palace ready dressed Presents Goods or whatsoever they please to bring with them the King prepareth men to carry And when they are come to the House that is prepared for them which is hung top and sides with white Callico they are kept under a Guard and great Commanders with Soldiers appointed to watch at their Gates which is accounted for a great honour But these Guards dare not permit any to come to the Speech of them for the King careth not that any should talk with Ambassadors but himself with whom he taketh great delight to have conference and to see them brought before him in sine Apparrel their Swords by their sides with great State and Honour and that the Ambassadors may see and take notice of the greatness oâ— his Majesty And after they have been there some times he gives them both Men and handsom young Maids for their Servants to attend and also to accompany them often causing them to be brought into his presence to see his Sports and Pastimes and not caring to send them away but in a very familiar manner entertaining discourse with them CHAP. II. Concerning the King's Manners Vices Recreation Religion UNder the Consideration of his Manners will fall his Temperance his Ambition and Pride his Policy and Dissimulation his cruel and bloody Disposition He is temperate both in his Diet and his Lust. Of the â—ormer I am inâ—ormed by those that have attended on his Person in his Palace that though he hath all sorts of Varieties the Land affords brought to his Table yet his chief fare is Herbs and ripe pleasant Fruits and this but once a day Whatsoever is brought for him to eat or drink is covered with a white cloath and whoever brings it hath a Muster tyed about his mouth lest he should breath upon the Kings Food The Kings manner of eating is thus He sits upon a Stool before a small Table covered with a white cloath all alone He eats on a green Plantane-Leaf laid in a Gold Bason There are twenty or thirty Dishes prepared for him which are brought into his Dining-Room And which of these Dishes the King pleases to call for a Nobleman appointed for that service takes a Portion of and reaches in a Ladle to the Kings Bason This person also waits with a musâ—er about his mouth And as he is abstemious in his eating so in the use of women If he useth them 't is unknown and with great secrecy He hath not had the Company oâ— his Queen this twenty years to wit since he went â—rom Candy where he left her He allowes not in his Court Whoredom or Adultery and many times when he hears of the misdemeanors of some oâ— his Nobles in regard of women He not only Executes them but severely punisheth the women iâ— known and he hath so many Spâ—eâ— that there is but little done which he knows not oâ— And oâ—ten he gives Command to expel all the women ouâ— oâ— the City not onâ— to remain But by little and little when they think his wrath is appens'd they do creep in again But no women of any Quality dare presume and if they would they cannot the Watches having charge given them not to let them pass Some have been taken concealed under mans Apparel and what became of them all may judg â—or they never went home again Rebellion does not more displease this Kingâ— then â—or his Nobles to have to do with women Therefore when any are admitted to his Court to wâ—it upon him they are not permitted to enjoy the Company of their Wives no more then any other women Neither hath he suâ—â—ered any for near this twenty years to have their Wives in the City except Slaves or inferior servants Indeed he was once guilty of an Aâ—l that seemed to arguâ— him a man of most unbridled â—â—st For he had a Daughteâ— that was with Child by himselâ— but in â—hildbed â—oth dâ—ed But this manner of Iuâ—â—st is allowable in Kingsâ— iâ— it be only to beget a right Royal Isâ—ue which can only be gotten that wayâ— But in all otheâ— ' â—â—s held abomâ—inable and severely punished And here they have a common and usual Prâ—uerb Neâ—e can reproach the â—â—us nor the Beggaâ— The one being so high that none â—aâ—e the other so lowâ— that nothing can â—hame or reproach them His Pride and asseâ—lation of honour is unmeasuâ—able Which appears in his Peoples manner of Address to him which he either Commands or allows of When they come before him they fall flat down on their Faces to the Ground at three sâ—veral â—imesâ— and then they sit with their legs under them upon their Knees all the time they are in his presence And when he â—ids them to absent they go backwards untill they are out of hiâ— sightâ— oâ— a great distance from him But of Christian People indeed he requires no more then to kneel with their â—aâ—â— oâ—â— before him Nay He takes on him all the Cerâ—monies and Solemnitieâ— of Honour which they shew unto their Gods making his aâ—â—ount that as he is now their King so herâ—aâ—ter he shall be one oâ— thâ—ir Gods And the People did call him God Formerly since my â—â—â—ing on that land he used not to come ouâ— oâ— his Palace
in his Palace Where he hath it running thro in many places unto little Ponds made with Lime and Stone and full of Fish To bring this Water to his Palace was no small deal of labour For not having a more convenient way they were forced to split a great Mountain in twain to bring the Water thro and after that to make a Bank cross a Valley far above a Cables length and in height above four Fathom with thickness proportionable to maintain it for the Water to run over the top Which at first being only Earth the Water would often break down but now both bottom and sides are paved and wrought up with Stone After all this yet it was at least four or five Miles to bring this Water in a Ditch and the ground all Hills and Valleys so that they were forced to turn and wind as the Water would run Also when they met with Rocks which they could not move as this Ground is full of them they made great Fires with Wood upon it until it was soundly hot and hereby it became so soft that they could easily break it with Mawls This Water was that which nourished that Countrey from whence it was taken The People of which ever since have scarce been able to Till their Land Which extremity did compel the People of those Parts to use a means to acquaint the King how the Countrey was destroyed thereby and disabled from perâ—orming those Duties and Services which they owed unto the King and that there was Water sufficient both â—or His Majestie 's Service and also to relieve their Necessities Which the King took very ill â—rom them as if they would seem to grudge him a little Water And sure I am woe be to him tâ—â—t should mention that matter again So far is he from regarding the good of his Countrey that he rather endeavours the Dâ—struction thereof For issue he hath none alive and e're long being of a great Age Nature tells him he must leave it Howbeit no love loâ—â— between the King and his People Yet he daily contriveth and buildeth in his Palace like Nebuchadâ—ezzar wet and dry day and night not showing the least sign of Favour to his People Who oftentimes by such needleâ—s Imployments are Letted from the seasonable times of Ploughing and Harvest to their great prejudice and sometimes utter undoing After the Rebellion when the People that lived at a further distance saw that the King intended to settle himself near the Mountain to which he fled Viz. Digligy and not to come into the old City again it being very troublesom and tedious to bring their Rents and Taxes thither they all jointly met together being a great number and sent an Address to intimate their Desires to him which was with great Submission That His Majesty would not leave them destitute of his Presence which was to them as the Sun that he would not absent himself from them to dwell in a Mountain in a desolate Countrey but seeing there was no further danger and all the Rebels destroyed that he would return to his old Palace again vowing all Fidelity to him The King did not like this Message and was somewhat afraid there being such a tumultuous Company met together and so thought not fit to drive them away or publickly to declare his displeasure at them but went to work like a Polititian Which was to tell them that he thanked them for their love and affection towards him and that he was desirous to dwell among them in such a part of their Countrey as he named and so bad them all go to work to build him a Palace there The People departed with some Satisâ—action and fell to work might and main and continued at it for near two years together selling Timber and fetching it out of the Woods laying Foundations hewing Stone till they were almost killed with labour And being wrought quite tyred they began to accuse and grumble at one another for having been the occasion of all this toil After they had laboured thus a long while and were all discouraged and the People quiet the King sent word to them to leave off And now it lies unfinished all the Timber brought in rots upon the place and the building runs to ruin And this is the manner how he employs his People pulling down and building up again equalling unequal grounds making sinks under ground for the passage of water thro' his Palace dragging of great Trees out of the Wood to make Pounds to catch Elephants in his Presâ—nce altho' they could catch them with far less labour and making houses to keep them inâ— alter they are taken He stands not upon any 〈◊〉 to establish himself or sâ—â—â—ke terror into his People This made him 〈◊〉 oâ—â— his only Son a young man of about â—ifteen years After the Rebellion the Kingdom being setled in the King's hands again and knowing that the hearts of the People disaâ—â—ecting himâ— stood strongly bent towards the Prince and fearing his own safely as the Prince grew to â—per years to prevent all he poisoned him For about a year after the Rebellion his Son was Sick the King takes this Opportunity to dispatch him by pretending to send Phyâ—iâ— to him to â—â—â—e him The People heaâ—ing of the Death of the Prince according to the Custom of the â—and when any of the Royal Blood is deceased came all in general towards the City where he was with black or else very dirty Cloaths which is their Mourning the Men all â—aâ—e headed the Women with their hair loose and hanging about their Shoulders to mourn and lament for the Death of their â—oung Prince Which the King hearing of sent this word unto them That since it was not his fortune to live to sit on his Throne aâ—ter him and Reign over the Land it would be but in vain to mournâ— and a great trouble and letâ— unto the Countrey and their voluntary good will was taken in as good part as the mourning it self and so dismiâ—â— the Assembly and burned the Princes dead Body without Ceremonies or Solemnities Yet the Death of an old Sister which he had caused no small â—amentation It was she that carried the Prince away in the Rebellion Which I shall relate by and by Countrey alter Countrey came up to mourn giving all signs of extraordinary sadness both in Habit and Countenance the King himself was sâ—â—n to weep bitterly The White men also came which the King took wellâ— Insomuch that the Hâ—llanders supposing the King himself to be dead came up to take Possession of the Countrey but hearing the contrary and understanding their mistake returned back again The King and all his Countrey for more than a years time went in mourning And her Body was burnt with all the Honour and State that could be Yet notwithstanding all the love and respect he bare unto heâ— he did not once Visit her in all the time of her
Artificer is to have a good gratification besides the first agreed upon reward The Eyes being formed it is thenceforward a God And then being brought with honour from the Workman's Shop it is dedicated by Solemnities and Sacrifices and carried with great state into its shrine or little house which is before built and prepared for it Sometimes a man will order the Smith to make this Idol and then after it is made will go about with it to well-disposed People to contribute toward the Wages the Smith is to have for making it And men will freely give towards the charge And this is looked upon in the man that appointed the Image to be made as a notable piece of Devotion I have mentioned the Bogahah Tree before which in memory of this God they hold Sacred and perform Sacrifices and celebrate Religious Meetings under Under this Tree at some convenient distance about ten or twelve foot at the outmost edge of the Platform they usually build Booths or Tents some are made slight only with leaves for the present use but some are built substantial with hewn Timber and Clay Walls which stand many years These Buildings are divided into small Tenements for each particular Family The whole Town joyns and each man builds his own Appartment so that the Building goes quite round like a circle only one gap is left which is to pass thro to the Bogahah Tree and this gap is built over with a kind of Portal The use of these Buildings is for the entertainment of the Women Who take great delight to come and see these Ceremonies clad in their best and richest Apparel They employ themselves in seeing the Dancers and the Iuglers do their Tricks who afterwards by their importunity will get Money of them or a Ring off their Fingers or some such matters Here also they spend their time in eating Betel and in talking with their Consorts and shewing their fine Cloths These Solemnities are always in the Night the Booths all set round with Lamps nor are they ended in one Night but last three or four until the Full Moon which always puts a Period to them CHAP. V. Concerning their Religions Doctrines Opinions and Practices THere are few or none zealous in their worship or have any great matter of esteem for their Gods And they seldom busie themselves in the matters of their Religion until they come to be sick or very aged They debar none that will come to see the Ceremonies of their worship and if a stranger should dislike their way reprove or mock at them for their Ignorance and Folly they would acknowledge the same and laugh at the superstitions of their own Devotion but withall tell you that they are constrained to do what they do to keep themselves safe from the malice and mischiefs that the evil spirits would otherwise do them with which they say their Country swarm Sometimes in their Sickness they go to the House of their Gods with an Offering with which they present him intreating his favour and aid to restore them to health Upon the recovery whereof they promise him not to fail but to give unto His Majesty for so they entitle him far greater Gifts or Rewards and what they are they do particularly mention it may be Land a Slave Cattle Money Cloth c. and so they will discourse argue and expostulate with him as if he were there present in Person before them If after this he fails on his part and cannot restore them to their health then the fore-promised things are to remain where they were and instead of which perhaps he gets a Curse saying He doth but cheat and deceive them It is a usual saying and very frequent among them if their Gerahah which is their fortune be bad What can God do against it Nay I have often heard them say Give him no Sacrifice but shit in his Mouth what a God is He So slight an estimation have they of their Idol-Gods and the King far less esteems them For he doth not in the least give any countenance either to the Worshipper or to the manner of worship And God's name be magnified that hath not suffered him to disturb or molest the Christians in the least in their Religion or ever attempt to force them to comply with the Countreys Idolatry But on the contrary both King and People do generally like the Christian Religion better than their own and respect and honour the Christians as Christians and do believe there is a greater God than any they adore And in all probability they would be very easily drawn to the Christian or any other Religion as will appear by this story following There was lately one among them that pretended himself a Prophet sent to them from a new God that as yet was nameless At which the People were amused especially because he pretended to heal the Sick and do Miracles and presently he was had in high veneration He gave out it was the command of the new nameless God to spoil and pull down the Dewals that is the Temples of the former Gods This he made a good progress in with no let or impediment from King or People The King all this while inclined neither to one or other as not regarding such matters until he might see which of these Gods would prevail the old or the new For this People stand in fear of all that are called Gods and this especially surprized them because without a Name so contrary to all their old ones who have Names This new-found God therefore went on boldly and successfully without controâ—l the People all in general began to admire him thus come among them And great troops of People daily assembled thither with Sacrifices and to worship him Whereby seeing their inclination so strong towards him he began to perceive it was not only possible but also easie and probable to change his Priesthood for a Kingdom At which time whether the King began to suspect or not I cannot say but he sent for one of his Priests to be brought up to the Court. For this God had his residence in the Countrey at Vealbow in Hotcourly somewhat remote from the King This Priest having remained at the City some days the King took a Ring from off his Finger and put it in an Ivory Box and sent it by three of his great Men to him bidding him to enquire of his nameless God what it was that was therein which amazed this Priest but he returned this subtil answer that he was not sent to divine but to heal the Diseases and help the Infirmities of the People Upon which the King gave Command to take him and put him in the Stocks under a Tree there to be wet with the Rain and dry again with the Sun Which was executed upon him accordingly The Chief Priest who was the first Inventor of this new God hearing what the King had done and fearing what
These men can certainly foretel Eclipses of the Sun and Moon They make Leet that is Almanacks that last for a Month. They are written upon a Tallipat leaf a little above a foot long and two fingers broad In them are told the Age of the Moon and the good Seasons and times to begin to Plough or to Sow or to go a Iourney or to take any work in hand On this precise time they will be sure to sprinkle their first Seed tho they sow all their Field it may be a Month after And so they will begin to set forth at the very moment tho possibly they will not go till some days after These Astronomers tell them also when the old year ends to the very minute At which time they cease from all work except the Kings which must not be omitted They acquaint them also with the good hour of the New year they are to begin to work At which time every Man and Woman begins to do somewhat in their employment they intend to follow the ensuing year They have also another season directed them by their Astronomers that is when to begin to wash their heads which is assigned to every one according to the time of their Nativities which Ceremony they observe very religiously These Astronomers or rather Astrologers are skilful in the Knowledge of the Stars and Planets of which they reckon nine 't is supposed they may add the Dragon's Head and Tail By which they pretend to foretel all things concerning the health and recovery of Sick Persons also concerning the fate of Cildren born about which the Parents do presently consult them and save their Children or kill them according to the fortunate or unfortunate hour they tell the Parents they were born in VVhen a Person is Sick he carries to these men his Nativity which they call Hanna hom pot upon the perusal of which they tell his destiny These also direct â—it times for beginning Iourneys or other undertakings They are likewise consulted concerning Marriages by looking upon the Man and Womans Nativity They reckon their Time from one Saccawarsi an ancient King Their year consists of 365 days They begin their year upon our Eight and twentieth day of March and sometimes the Seven and twentieth and sometimes but very seldom on the Nine and twentieth The reason of which I conceive to be to keep it equal to the course of the Sun as our Leap year doth They call the year Quredah This they divide into Twelve Months named Wasachmaha Pomaha Ahalamoha Micheneha Bochmoha c. They divide their Months into Weeks each consisting of seven days called Fridah Sandudah Onghorudah Bodadah Braspotindah Sâ—couradah Henouradah The first of which they account a good and a fortunate day to begin to do or undertake any thing and it falls our upon our Sunday On their Wednesdays and Saturdays they open their Churches and perform their Ceremonies Their day which they call Dausack they divide into Thirty Pays hours or parts and begin their account from the Sun rising and their Night also into as many and begin from Sun-setting So that the Fifteenth Pay is Twelve a Clock at Noon They have a Flower by which they judge of the time which constantly blows open seven Pays before Night They have no Clocks Hour-glasses or Sun-Dials but keep their time by guess The King indeed hath a kind of Instrument to measure time It is a Copper Dish holding about a Pint with a very small hole in the bottom This Dish they set a swimming in an Earthen Pot of water the water leaking in at the bottom till the Dish be full it sinks And then they take it out and set it empty on the water again and that makes one Pay Few or none use this but the King who keeps a man on purpose to watch it continually The People will use it upon some occasions as if they are to sow their Corn at any particular hour as being the good lucky Season then they make use of the Copper Pan to know the time exactly Thâ—y do practise Magick Whereof take these two remarkable instances of many that might be given The Countrey of Neurecalava formerly brought forth great plenty of Corn occasioned by reason of its large waterings A Neighbour Kingdom the Kingdom of Cournegal which lyes in Hotcourley in those times was brought to a great dearth At which the King sends to the People of Neurecalava that they would bring a supply of Corn to his Countrey which they did in great store upon Beasts in Sacks and arrived at the King's City and there for the more expeditious measuring out every Housholder his proportion of Corn they made a hole in the Sacks and let it run out still driving on the Beasts before them and all that was shed before every man's House was to be his share This exceedingly gratified the King Afterward the King to requite them asked what they most needed in their Countrey They answered They had plenty of all things only they wanted Cahah mirris that is Turmeric and Pepper The King to gratifie them sent them such a quantity of each as his Country could afford As soon as this was brought to the People of Neurecalava they went to measure it out to every man his Portion but finding it of so small a quantity they resolved to grind it as they do when they use it with their Victuals and put it into the River to give a seasoning to the water and every Man was to take up his Dish of water thus seasoned From whence Neurecalava had its denomination viz. from Neur signifying a City and Cahah that signifies Turmeric and Lava as if it were Lalla put into the River The King hearing of this Action of theirs was offended in that they so contemned his gift but concealed his displeasure Sometime after he took a Iourney to them and being there desired to know how their Countrey became so very fruitful They told him it was the water of the River pent up for their use in a very vast Pond Out of which they made Trenches to convey the water down into their Corn Grounds This Pond they had made with great Art and Labour with great Stones and Earth thrown up of a vast length and thickness in the fashion of an half Moon The King afterwards took his leave of them and went home and by the help of his Magicians brake down this vast Dam that kept in the water and so destroyed the Pond And by this means this fruitful Countrey wanting her water is become as ordinary Land as the rest having only what falls out of the Sky When a Robbery is committed to find the Thief they Charm a Coker-nut which is done by certain words and any one can do it that can but utter the Charm words Then they thrust a stick into it and set it either at the Door or hole the Thief went out at Then one holds the
greater allowance whereas I desired no more than the other English men had And as for the toyl and trouble in dressing of it that would be none to me for my Boy had nothing else to do And then I alledged several inconveniencies in bringâ—ng my Victuals ready boiled as first that it was not dressed accordingi to my Diet and many times not brought in due Season so that I could not eat when I was an hungry And the last and chief reason of all was that I might save a little to serve my Necessity of Clothing and rather than want Cloths for my Back I must pinch a little out of my Belly and so both go share and share like And so at length thanks be to God I obtained tho with much ado to get two Measures of Rice per day for my self and one for my Boy also Coker-nuts Pumpkins Herbs Limes and such like enough besides Pepper and Salt and sometimes Hens Eggs or Flesh Rice being the main thing they stand upon for other things they refuse not to give what they have Now having settled all Business about my allowance my next concern was to look after an House more convenient for my present one was too small to dress my Victuals in and to sleep in too Thereabouts was a Garden of Coker-nut Trees belonging unto the King a pleasant situation this place I made choice of to build me a House in And discovering my desire to the People they consented and came and built it for me but before it was finished their occasions called them awayâ— but my Boy and I made an end of it and whitened the Walls with Lime according to my own Countrey fashion But in doing this I committed a Capital Offence for none may white their Houses with Lime that being peculiar to Royal Houses and Temples But being a Stranger nothing was made of it because I did it in ignorance had it been a Native that had so done it is most probable it would have cost him his Head or at the least a great Fine Being settled in my new House I began to keep Hogs and Hens which by God's Blessing thrived very well with me and were a great help unto me I had also a great benefit by living in this Garden For all the Coker-nuts that fell down they gave me which afforded me Oyl to burn in the Lamp and also to fry my meat in Which Oyl being new is but little inferior to this Countrey Butter Now I learned to knit Caps which Skill I quickly attained unto and by God's Blessing upon the same I obtained great help and relief thereby In this manner we all lived seeing but very little sign that we might build upon to look for Liberty The chief of our hopes of it was that in process of time when we were better acquainted we might run away Which some of our People attempted to do too soon before they knew well which way to go and were taken by the Inhabitants For it is the custom of the Chingulays to suspect all white People they meet travailing in the Countrey to be Runaways and to examine them and if they cannot give satisfactory answers they will lay hold of them and carry them back unto the City Where they will keep them Prisoners under a guard of Soldiers in an open House like a Barn with a little Victuals sometimes and sometimes with none at all Where they have no other remedy to help themselves but Begging And in this Condition they may lye perhaps for their Lifeâ—time being so kept for a Spectacle unto the People Tho the common way whereby the King gratifies such as catch Runawayes and bring them up is not over acceptable For they are appointed to feed and watch them until he calls for them to be brought before him At which time his promise is bountifully to reward them But these Promises I never knew performed Neither doth he perhaps ever think of it after For when the King is made acquainted with the matter the men that have brought up the Prisoner are in a manner as bad Prisoners themselves not daring to go home to their Houses without his leave but there they must remain After some years stay the common manner is for them to give a Fee unto the Governor of the Countrey and he will licence them to go home which they must be contented with instead of the promised reward CHAP. IV. Concerning some other English men detained in that Countrey IN the same Captivity with our selves on this Island was another Company of English Men who were taken about a year and an half before us viz. in the year MDCLVIII They were Thirteen in number whose names were as follow Viz. Mr. William Vassal Iohn Merginson Thomas March Thomas Kirby Richard Ielf Gamaliel Gardiner William Day Thomas Stapleton Henry Man Hugh Smart Daniel Holstein an Hamburger Iames Gony and Henry Bingham The occasion of their Seizure was thus The Ship these Men belonged unto was the Persia Merchant Capt. Francis Iohnson Commander which was lost upon the Maldives Islands But they escaped in their Boats and passing along by this Land went on shore to recruit and buy Provisions and so were taken The Chingulays that took them Plundered them of what they had except their Cloths Yet one of them Iohn Merginson by name having cunningly hid his Money about him saved it from the Heathen but from his own Countrymen he could not some of whom knowing of it set upon him and robbed him of it But it did them little good for the King hearing of it sent and robbed the Robbers These men thus seized were carried up before the King Of whom he demanded whether the English had Wars with the Hollanders They answered No. Or if the English could beat them They answered They could and had done it lately Then he gave order to give them all some Cloths and to Mr. William Vassal being the chief of them a double Portion And out of them made choice of two Lads whom afterwards he sent and took into his Court. Their honours and their ends we shall see by and by They were all placed in the City of Cande and each of them had a new Mat given them to sleep on and their Diet was Victuals dressed and brought them twice a day from the King 's own Palace They had Cloths also distributed to them another time So that these men had the advantage of us For we neither had Mats nor Cloths nor had the honour of being ever brought into the King's Presence This civil Reception upon their first coming up into the City put these Persia Merchant-men in hope that the King would give them their Liberty There was at that time an old Portugueze Father Padre Vergonse by name living in the City With him they discoursed concerning the probability of their Liberty and that the favours the King had shewn them seemed to be good signs of
he had no Stomach at all and was greatly afraid of as he justly might be For the avoiding therefore of it he sends a Letter to this English Courtier whein he entreated him to use his interest to excuse him to the King The English man could not read the Letter being writ in the Portugueze Tongue but gave it to another to read Which when he knew the contents of thought it not safe for him to meddle in that business and so concealed the Letter The person to whom the English man had given it to read some time after informed the King thereof Whereupon both the Portugueze that sent the Letter and the English man to whom it was sent and the Third Person that read it because he informed no sooner were all three at one time and in one place torn in pieces by Elephants After this Execution the King supposing that we might be either discontented in our selves or discountenanced by the People of the Land sent special order to all parts where we dwelt that we should be of good cheer and not be discouraged neither abused by the Natives Thus jealous is the King of Letters and allows none to come or go We have seen how dear it cost poor Henry Man Mr. William Vassal another of the Persia-Merchant men was therefore more wary of some Letters he had and came off better This man had received several Letters and it was known abroad that he had Which he fearing lest the King should hear of thought it most convenient and safe to go to the Court and present them himself that so he might plead in his own Defence to the King Which he did He acknowledged to him that he had received Letters and that they came to his hands a pretty while ago but withall pretended excuses and reasons to clear himself As first that when he received them he knew not that it was against the Law and manner of the Countrey and when he did know he took Council of a Portugueze Priest who was now dead being old and as he thought well experienced in the Countrey But he advised him to defer a while the carrying them unto the King until a more convenient season After this he did attempt he said to bring them unto the King but could not be permitted to have entrance thro the Watches so that until now he could not have opportunity to present them The King at the hearing hereof seemed not to be displeased in the least but bid him read them Which he did in the English Language as they were writ and the King sat very attentive as if he had understood every word After they were read the King gave Vassal a Letter he had intercepted sent to us from Sir Edward Winter then Agent at Fort St. George and asked the News and Contents thereof Which Mr Vassal informed him at large of It was concerning the Victory we had gained over the Dutch when Obdam Admiral of Holland was slain and concerning the number of our Ships in that Fight being there specified to be an Hundred and Fifty Sail. The King inquired much after the number of Guns and Men they carried The number of Men he computed to be one Ship with another about Three Hundred per Ship At that rate the King demanded of him how many that was in all Which Mr. Vassal went about to cast up in the Sand with his finger But before he had made his Figures the King had done it by Head and bid him desist saying it was 45000. This News of the Hollanders overthrow and the English Victory much delighted the King and he inquired into it very particularly Then the King pretended he would send a Letter to the English Nation and bad Mr. Vassal inform him of a Trusty Bearer Which he was very forward to do and named one of the best which he had made trial of One of the Great men there present objected against him saying he was insufficient and asked him if he knew no other At which Vassal suspected their Design which was to learn who had brought those Letters to him and so framed his answer accordingly which was that he knew no other There was much other discourse passed between the King and him at this time in the Portugueze Tongue Which what it was I could never get out of him the King having commanded him to keep it secret And he saith he hath sworn to himself not to divulge it till he is out of the Kings hands At parting the King told him for Secrecy he would send him home privatly or otherwise he would have dismist him with Drums and Honour But after this the King never sent for him again And the man that he named as fit and able to carry the Kings Letter was sent away Prisoner to be kept in Chains in the Countrey It is supposed that they concluded him to have been the man that brought Vassal his Letters And thus much of the Captivity and Condition of the Persia-Merchant men CHAP. V. Concerning the means that were used for our Deliverance And what happened to us in the Rebellion And how we were setled afterwards ALl of us in this manner remained until the year MDCLXIV At which time arrived a Letter on our behalf to the King from the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Winter Governour of Fort St. George and Agent there The Dutch Embassadour also at that time by a Commission from the Governour of Columba treated with the King for us With Sir Edward's Message the King was much pleased and with the Dutch's mediation so prevailed with that he promised he would send us away Upon this he commanded us all to be brought to the City Whither when we came we were very joyful not only upon the hopes of our Liberty but also upon the sight of one another For several of us had not seen the others since we were first parted Here also we met with the Persia Merchant men whom until this time we had not seen So that we were nine and twenty English in all Some few days after our Arrival at the City we were all called to the Court. At which time standing all of us in one of the Palace Court-yards the Nobles by command from the King came forth and told us that it was his Majesties Pleasure to grant unto us our Liberty and to send us home to our Countrey and that we should not any more look upon our selves as Prisoners or detained men At which we bowed our heads and thanked his Majesty They told us moreover that the King was intended to send us either with the Dutch Embassadour or by the Boat which Sir Edward Winter had sent and that it was his Majesties good will to grant us our choice We humbly referred it to his Majesties pleasure They answered his Majesty could â—nd would do his pleasure but his will was to know our minds After a short consultation we answered since it
the King would take it at our hands from whom we knew this could not be hid Into our Houses we got safely But no sooner were we there but immediately we were called again by a great Man who had drawn out his Men and stood in the Field This Man we thought had been one of the Rebels who to secure himself upon this change had intended to run away down to Columbo to the Dutch Which made us repair to him the more cheerfully leaving our Meat a roasting on the Spit But it proved otherwise For no sooner had he gotten us unto him but he Proclaimed himself for the old King and forthwith he and his Company taking us with him marched away to Fight or seize the Rebels but meeting none went into the City and there dismissed us saying He would acquaint the King how willing and ready we were to fight for him if need had required altho God knows it was the least of our thoughts and intents yet God brought it to pass for our good For when the King was informed of what we had received of the Rebels this piece of good Service that we had done or rather supposed to have done was also told unto him At the hearing of which himself justified us to be innocent saying Since my absence who was there that would give them Victuals And It was mere want that made them to take what they did Thus the words of the King 's own mouth acquitted us And when the Sword devoured on every side yet by the Providence of God not one hair of our heads perished The Tumults being appeased and the Rebellion vanished the King was settled in his Throne again And all this happened in five days time We were now greatly necessitated for food and wanted some fresh Orders from the King's mouth for our future subsistence So that having no other remedy we were fain to go and lay in the High way that leads to the City a begging for the People would not let us go any nearer towards the King as we would have done There therefore we lay that the King might come to the knowledge of us and give Command for our allowance again By which means we obtained our purpose For having laid there some two Months the King was pleased to appoint our Quarters in the Countrey as formerly not mentioning a word of sending us away as he had made us believe before the Rebellion Now we were all sent away indeed but not into our own Countrey but into new Quarters Which being God would have to be no better we were glad it was so well being sore a weary of laying in this manner For for some three Months time we had no manner of allowance We were all now placed one in a Town as formerly together with the Persia Merchant men also who hitherto had lived in the City of Cande and had their Provisions brought them out of the King's Palace ready dressed These were now sent away with us into the Countrey And as strict a charge was given for our good entertainment as before We were thus dispersed about the Towns here one and there another for the more convenient receiving our allowance and for the greater ease of the People And now we were far better to pass than heretofore having the Language and being acquainted with the Manners and Customs of the People and had the same proportion of Victuals and the like respect as formerly And now they fall into employments as they please either Husbandry or Merchandizing or knitting Caps being altogether free to do what they will themselves and to go where they will excepting running away and for that end we are not permitted to go down to the Sea but we may travel all about the Countrey and no man regards us For tho the People some of the first years of our Captivity would scarcely let us go any whither and had an eye upon us afterwards yet in process of time all their Suspitions of our going away wore off especially when several of the English had built them Houses and others had taken them Wives by whom they had Children to the number of eighteen living when I came away Having said all this in general of the English People there I will now continue a further account of my self CHAP. VI. A Continuation of the Author 's particular Condition after the Rebellion Purchaseth a piece of Land MY hap was to be quartered in a Countrey called Handapondown lying to the Westward of the City of Cande Which place liked me very well being much nearer to the Sea than where I dwelt before which gave me some probable hopes that in time I might chance to make an escape But in the mean time to free my self from the Suspition of the People who watched me by Night and by Day had an eye to all my actions I went to work with the help of some of my Neighbors to Build me another House upon the Bank of a River and intrenched it round with a Ditch and Planted an Hedge and so began to settle my self and followed my business in Knitting and going about the Countries a Trading seeming to be very well contented in this Condition Lying so long at the City without allowance I had spent all to some Seven shillings which served me for a stock to set up again in these new Quarters And by the Blessing of my most gracious God which never sailed me in all my Undeâ—takings I soon came to be well furnished with what that Countrey afforded insomuch that my Neighbours and Townsmen no more suspected my running away but earnestly advised me to marry saying It would be an ease and help to me knowing that I then dressed my Victuals my self having turned my Boy to seek his Fortune when we were at the City They urged also That it was not convenient for a young man as I was to live so solitarily alone in a house and if it should so come to pass that the King should send me hereafter to my Country their manner of Marriage they said was not like ours and I might without any Offence discharge my Wife and go away I seemed not altogether to sâ—ight their counsel that they might the less suspect I had any thoughts of mine own Countrey but told them That as yet I was not sufficiently stocked and also That I would look for one that I could love tho in my heart I never purposed any such matter but on the contrary did heartily abhor all thoughts tending that way In this place I lived two years and all that time could not get one likely occasion of running for it For I thought it better to forbear running too great a hazard by being over-hasty to escape than to deprive my self of all hopes for the future when time and experience would be a great help to me In the year MDCLXVI the Hollanders came up and built a Fort just below me
my refuge was Prayer to God whose hand was not shortned that it could not save and would make all things work together for good to them that trust in him From him only did I expect help and deliverance in this time of need In this manner I lodged in an English mans house that dwelt in the City about ten days maintaining my self at my own charge waiting with a sorrowful heart and daily expecting to hear my Doom In the mean time my Countrey men and Acquaintance some of them blamed me for refusing so fair a Profer whereby I might not only have lived well my self but also have been helpful unto my Pooâ— Country-men and friends others of them pittying me expecting as I did nothing but a wrathful sentence from so cruel a Tyrant iâ— God did not prevent And Richard Varnham who was at this time a great man about the King was not a little scared to see me run the hazard of what might ensue rather than be Partaker with him in the felicities of the Court. It being chargable thus to lye at the City and hearing nothing more of my business I took leave without asking and went home to my House which was but a Days distance to get some Victuals to carry with me and to return again But soon after I came home I was sent for again So I took my load of Victuals with me and arrived at the City but went not to the Court but to my former Lodging where I staid as formerly until I had spent all my Provisions and by the good hand of my God upon me I never heard any more of that matter Neither came I any more into the Presence of the Great-men at Court but dwelt in my own Plantation upon what God provided for me by my Labour and Industry For now I returned to my former course of life dressing my Victuals daily with mine own hands fetching both Wood and Water upon mine own back And this for ought I could see to the contrary I was like to continue for my life time This I could do for the Present but I began to consider how helpless I should be if it should please God I should live till I grew old and feeble So I entred upon a Consultation with my self for the providing against this One way was the getting of me a Wife but that I was resolved never to do Then I began to enquire for some poor body to live with me to dress my Victuals for me that I might live at a little more ease but could not find any to my mind Whereupon I considered that there was no better way than to take one of my poor Country-mens Children whom I might bring up to learn both my own Language and Religion And this might be not only Charity to the Child but a kindness to my self also afterwards And several there were that would be glad so to be eased of their charge having more than they could well maintain a Child therefore I took by whose aptness ingenuity and company as I was much delighted at present so aâ—terwards I hoped to be served It was now about the year M DCL XXIII Altho I had now lived many years in this Land and God be praised I wanted for nothing the Land afforded yet could I not forget my native Countrey England and lamented under the Famine of Gods Word and Sacraments the want whereof I found greater than all earthly wants and my dayly and fervent Prayers to God were in his good time to restore me to the enjoyment of them I and my Companion were still meditating upon our escape and the means to compass it Which our pedling about the Countrey did greatly forward and promote For speaking well the Language and going with our Commodities from place to place we used often to entertain discourse with the Countrey people viz. concerning the ways and the Countreys and where there were most and fewest inhabitants and where and how the Watches laid from one Countrey to another and what Commodities were proper to carry from one part to the other pretending we would from time to time go from one place to another to furnish our selves with ware that the respective places afforded None doubted but we had made these inquiries for the sake of our Trade but our selves had other designs in them Neither was there the least suspition of us for these our questions all supposing I would never run away and leave such an estate as in their accounts and esteem I had By diligent inquiry I had come to understand that the easiest and most probable way to make an escape was by travailing to the Northward that part of the Land being least inhabited Therefore we furnished our selves with such wares as were vendible in those parts as Tobacco Pepper Garlick Combs all sorts of Iron Ware c. and being laden with these things we two set forth bending our course towards the Northern Parts of the Island knowing very little of the way and the ways of this Countrey generally are intricate and difficult here being no great High-ways that run thro the Land but a multitude of little Paths some from one Town to another some into the Fields and some into the Woods where they sow their Corn and the whole Countrey covered with Woods that a man cannot see any thing but just before him And that which makes them most difficult of all is that the ways shift and alter new ways often made and old ways stopped up For they cut down Woods and sow the ground and having got one Crop off from it they leave it and Wood soon grows over it again and in case a Road went thro those Woods they stop it and contrive another way neither do they regard tho it goes two or three miles about and to ask and inquire the way for us white men is very dangerous it occasioning the People to suspect us And the Chingulays themselves never Travail in Countreys where they are not experienced in the ways without a guide it being so difficult And there was no getting a guide to conduct us down to the Sea But we made a shift to travail from Cande Vda downwards towards the North from Town to Town happening at a place at last which I knew before having been brought up formerly from Cooswat that way to descend the Hill called Bocaul where there is no Watch but in time of great disturbance Thus by the Providence of God we passed all difficulties until we came into the County of Neurecalava which are the lowest parts that belong to this King and some three days journey from the place whence we came We were not a little glad that we were gotten so far onwards in our way but yet at this time we could go no farther for our ware was all sold and we could pretend no more excuses and also we had been out so long that it might cause our Towns-men to
generally reported the Dutch could not have taken the City But being surrendred to them and they gotten into it the King lay looking when they would come according to their former Articles and put him into possession of it Mean while they turned on a suddain fell upon him contrary to his expectation whether the King had first broke word with them and took Bag and Baggage from him Which provoked him in so high a manner that he maintains a constant hostility against them detains their Ambassadours and forbids his People upon pain of Death to hold Commerce with them So that the Dutch have enough to do to maintain those places which they have Oftentimes the King at unawares falls upon them and does them great spoil sometimes giving no quarter but cutting off the Heads of whomsoever he catches which are brought up and hung upon Trees near the City many of which I have seen Sometimes he brings up his Prisoners alive and keeps them by the High-way sides a spectacle to the People in memory of his Victories over them many of these are now living there in a most miserable condition having but a very small Allowance from him so that they are forced to be and it is a favour when they can get leave to go abroad and do it The Dutch therefore not being able to deal with him by the Sword being unacquainted with the Woods and the Chingulays manner of fighting do endeavour for Peace with him all they can dispatching divers Embassadours to him and sending great Presents by carrying Letters to him in great State wrapped up in Silks wrought with Gold and Silver bearing them all the way upon their Heads in token of great Honour honouring him with great and high Titles subscribing themselves his Subjects and Servants telling him the Forts they build are out of Loyalty to him to secure his Majesties Country from Forraign Enemies and that when they come up into his Countrey t is to seek maintenance And by these Flatteries and submissions they sometimes obtain to keep what they keep what they have gotten from him and sometimes nothing will prevail he neither regarding their Embassadours nor receiving the Presents but taking his opportunities on a suddain of setting on them by his Forces His Craft and Success in taking Bibligom Fort in the County of Habberagon may deserve to be mentioned The Chingulays had beseiged the Fort and knowing the Dutch had no Water there but all they had was conveyed thro a Trench wrought under Ground from a River near by they beseiged them so close and planted so many Guns towards the mouth of this Trench that they could not come out to fetch Water They cut down Wood also and made bundles of Faggots therewith which they piled up round about their Fort at some distance and every night removed them nearer and nearer So that their works became higher than the Fort. Their main intent by these Faggot-works was to have brought them just under the Fort and then to have set it on Fire the Walls of the Fort being for the most part of Wood. There was also a Bo-gahah Tree growing just by the Fort on which they planted Guns and shot right down into them The houses in the Fort being Thatched they shot also Fire-Arrows among them So that the beseiged were forced to pull off the Straw from their Houses which proved a great inconvenience to them being a Rainy Season so that they lay open to the weather and cold The Dutch finding themselves in this extremity desired quarter which was granted them at the Kings mercy They came out and laid down their Arms all but the Officers who still wore theirs None were plundered of any thing they had about them The Fort they demolished to the Groundâ— and brought up the Four Guns to the Kings Palace where they among others stand mounted in very brave Carriages before his Gate The Dutch were brought two or three days journey from the Fort into the Countrey they call Owvah and there were placed with a Guard about them having but a small allowance appointed them insomuch that afterwards having spent what they had they perished for Hunger So that of about ninety Hollanders taken Prisoners there were not above five and twenty living when I came away There are several white Embassadours besides other Chingulay People by whom the Dutch have sent Letters and presents to the King whom he keeps from returning back again They are all bestowed in several hoâ—ses with Soldiers to Guard them And tho they are not in Chains yet none is permitted to come to them or speak with them it not being the custom of that Land for any to come to the speech of Embassadours Their allowance is brought them ready dressed out of the Kings Palace being all sorts of Varieties that the Land affords After they have remained in this condition some years the Guards are somewhat slackned and the Soldiers that are to watch them grow reâ—â—ss in their Duty so that now the Ambassadours walk about the Streets and any body goes to their houses and talks with them that is after they have been so long in the Countrey that all their news is stale and grown out of date But this liberty is only winked at not allowed When they have been there a great while the King usually gives them Slaves both men and women the more to alienate their minds from their own Country and that they may stay with him with the more willingness and content For his design isâ— to make them if he can inclinable to serve him As he prevailed with one of these Embassadours to do for the love of a woman The manner of it I shall relate immediatly There are five Embassadors whom he hath thus detained since my coming there of each of whom I shall speak a little besides two whom he sent away voluntarily The first of these was sent up by the Hollanders some time before the Rebellion against the King Who had detained him in the City After the Rebellion the King sent for him to him to the Mountain of Gauluda whither he had retreated from the Rebels The King not long aâ—ter removed to Digligy where he now keeps his Court but lest the Embassador at Gauluda remaining by himself with a Guard of Soldiers In this uncomfortable condition upon a dismal Mountain void of all society he continued many days During which time a Chingulay and his Wife falls out and she being discontented with her Husband to escape from him flies to this Embassadors house for shelter The woman being somewhat beautiful he fell greatly in love with her And to obtain her he sent to the King and profered him his service if he would permit him to enjoy her company Which the King was very willing and glad to do having now obtained that which he had long aimed at to get him into his service Hereupon the King sent him word that he
granted his desire and withall sent to both of them rich Apparel and to her many Iewels and Bracelets of Gold and Silver Suddainly after there was a great House prepared from them in the City furnished with all kind of furniture out of the Kings Treasure and at his proper cost and charges Which being finished he was brought away from his Mountain into it Bâ—t from thence forward never saw his Wife more according to the custom of Court. And he was entertained in the Kings Service and made Courtalbad which is cheif over all the Smiths and Carpenters in Cande Vda Some short time after the King about to send his Forces against a Fort of the Hollanders called Arundery built by them in the year MDCLXVI He tho in the Kings service yet being a well wisher to his Countrey had privatly sent a Letter of advice to the Dutch concerning the Kings intention and purpose an Answer to which was intercepted and brought to the King wherein thanks was returned him from the Dutch for his Loyalty to his own Nation and â—hâ—t they would accordingly prepare for the Kings assault The King having this Letter sent for him and bad him read it which he excused pretending it was so written that he could not Whereupon immediatly another Dutchman was sent for who read it before the King and told him the Contents of it At which it is reported the King should say Beia pas mettandi hitta pas ettandi That is He serves me for fear and them for love or his fear is here and his love is there And forth with commanded to carry him forth to Execution which was accordingly done upon him T is generally said that this Letter was framed by somebody on purpose to ruine him The next Ambassador after him was Hendrick Draak a fine Gentleman and good friend of the English This was he who was Commissioned in the year MDCLXIV to intercede with the King on the behalf of the English that they might have liberty to go home and with him they were made to beleive they should return which happened at the same time that Sir Edward Winter sent his Letters to the King for us VVhich I have already spoke of in the fifth Chapter of this Part. This Embassador was much in the Kings favour with whom he was detained till he died And then the King sent his Body down to Columbo carried in a Pallenkine with great State and Lamention and accompanied with his great Commanders and many Soldiers Sometime after the loss of the Fort of Arrundery which was about the year MDCLXX the Dutch sent up another Embassador to see if he could obtain a Peace which was the first time their Embassadors began to bring up Letters upon their heads in token of extraordinary reverence This man was much favoured by the King and was entertained with great Ceremony and Honour cloathing him in Chingulay Habit Which I never knew done before nor since But being weary of his long stay and of the delays that were made having often made motions to go down and still he was deferred from day to day at length he made a resolution that if he had not leave by such a day he would go without it saying that the former Embassador who died there died like a Woman but it should bo seen that he would die like a man At the appointed day he girt on his Sword and repaired to the Gates of the Kings Palace pulling off his Hat and making his obeysance as if the King were present before him and thanking him for the Favours and Honours he had done him and so took his leave And there being some Englishmen present he generously gave them some money to drink his Health and in this resolute manner departed with some two or three Black-servants that attended on him The upshot of which was that the King not being willing to prevent his resolution by Violence sent one of his Noblemen to conduct him down and so he had the good fortune to get home safely to Columbo The next Ambassador after him was Iohn Baptista A Man of a milder Spirit than the former endeavouring to please and shew compliance with the King He obtained many Favours of the King and several Slaves both Men and Women And living well with Servants about him is the more patient in waiting the King's leisure till he pleaseth to send him home The last Embassador that came up while I was there brought up a Lion which the Dutch thought would be the most acceptable Present that they could send to the King as indeed did all others It was but a Whelp But the King did never receive it supposing it not so famous as he had heard by Report Lions were This Man with his Lion was brought up and kept in the County of Oudapollat near Twenty Miles from the King's Court. Where he remained about a year in which time the Lion died The Embassador being weary of living thus like a Prisoner with a Guard always upon him often attempted to go back seeing the King would not permit him Audience But the Guards would not let him Having divers times made disturbances in this manner to get away home the King commanded to bring him up into the City to an House that was prepared for him standing some distance from the Court Where having waited many days and seeing no sign of Audience he resolved to make his Appearance before the King by force which he attempted to do when the King was abroad taking his Pleasure The Soldiers of his Guard immediately ran and acquainted the Noblemen at Court of his coming who delayed not to acquaint the King thereof Whereupon the King gave Order forthwith to meet him and where they met him in that same place to stop him till further order And there they kept him not letting him go either forward or backward In this manner and place he remained for three days till the King sent Order that he might return to his House whence he came This the King did to tame him But afterwards he was pleased to call him before him And there he remained when I left the Countrey maintained with Plenty of Provisions at the King's charge The number of Dutch now living there may be about Fifty or Sixty Some whereof are Ambassadors some Prisoners of War some Runaways and Malefactors that have escaped the hand of Iustice and got away from the Dutch Quarters To all whom are allotted respective allowances but the Runaways have the least the King not loving such tho giving them entertainment The Dutch here love Drink and practise their proper Vice in this Countrey One who was a great Man in the Court would sometimes come into the King's Presence half disguised with Drink which the King often past over but once asked him Why do you thus disorder your self that when I send for you about my Business you are not in a capacity to serve me He
Knight Mr. Nathaniel Petton Sir Iohn Moor Knight Samuel Moyer Esquire Mr. Iohn Morden Mr. Iohn Paige Edward Rudge Esquire Daniel Sheldon Esquire Mr. Ieremy Sambrook Robert Thomson Esquire Right Worshipful SInce my return home to my Native Countrey of England after a long and Disconsolate Captivity my Friends and Acquaintance in our Converse together have been Inquisitive into the State of that Land in which I was Captivated whose Curiosity I indeavour to satisfie But my Relations and Accounts of Things in those Parts were so strange and uncouth and so different from those in these Western Nations and withal my Discourses seeming so Delightful and Acceptable unto them they very frequently called upon me to write what I knew of that Island of Ceilon and to digest it into a Discourse and make it more Publick unto which motion I was not much unwilling partly that I might comply with the Desires and Councels of my Friends and chiefly that I might Publish and Declare the great Mercy of God to me and Commemorate before all Men my singular Deliverance out of that Strange and Pagan Land which as often as I think of or mention I cannot but admire and adore the goodness of God towards me there being in it so many notable Footsteps of his signal Providence I had then by me several Papers which during my Voyage homeward from Bantam at leisure times I writ concerning the King and the Countrey and concerning the English there and of my Escape which Papers I forthwith set my self to Peruse and draw into a Method and to add what more might occur to my Thoughts of those Matters which at length I have finished contriving what I had to relate under four Heads The first concerning the Countrey and Products of it The second concerning the King and his Government The third concerning the Inhabitants and their Religion and Customs and the last concerning our Surprize Detainment and Escape In all which I take leave to Declare That I have writ nothing but either what I am assured of by my own personal Knowledge to be true and wherein I have born a great and a sad share or what I have received from the Inhabitants themselves of such things as are commonly known to be true among them The Book being thus perfected it required no long Meditation unto whom to present it it could be to none but your selves my Honoured Masters by whose Wisdom and Success the East-Indian Parts of the World are now near as well known as the Countries next adjacent to us So that by your means not only the Wealth but the Knowledge of those Indies is brought home to us Unto your Favour and Patronage therefore Right Worshipful I humbly presume to recommend these Papers and the Author of them who rejoyceth at this opportunity to acknowledge the Favours you have already conferred on him and to profess that next unto God on you depend his Future Hopes and Expectations being Lond. 18th March 16â—â— â—â— Right Worshipful Your most obliged and most humble and devoted Servant to be Commanded Robert Knox. The CONTENTS PART I. CHAP. I. A General Description of the Island THE Inland Parts of it hitherto unknown The chief Places on the Sea-Coasts The Names of the Provinces and Counties of the Inland Country Which are divided from each other by Woods The Countrey Hilly but inriched with Rivers The great River Mavelagonga described Woody Where most Populous and Healthful The nature of the Vallies The great Hill Adams Peak described The natural Strength of this Kingdom The difference of the Seasons in this Country What Parts have most Rain CHAP. II. Concerning the chief Cities and Towns of this Island THE most Eminent Cities are Five Viz. Cande Nellemby Allâ—utneur The Country of Bintan described Badoula The Province of Ouvah Digligy the place of the King's Residence Gauluda Many ruines of Cities Anarodgburro The nature of the Northern Parts The Port of Portaloon Affords Salt Leawava Affords Salt in abundance Described Thâ—ir Towns how built Many ly in ruins and forsaken and upon what occasion CHAP III. Of their Corn with their manner of Husbandry THE Products and Commodities of the Country Corn of divers sorts Rice Growes in water Their ingenuity in watering their Corn-lands Why they do not always sow the best kind of Rice They sow at different times but reap together Their artificial Pooles Alligators harbor in them They sow Corn on the mud A sort of Rice that growes without water The Seasons of Seed-time and Harvest A particular description of their Husbandry Their Plow The convenience of these Plowes Their First plowing Their Banks and use of them Their Second plowing How they prepare their Seed-Corn And their Land after it is plowed Their manner of Sowing How they manure order Young Corn. Their manner of reaping They tread out their Corn with Cattel The Ceremonies they use when the Corn is to be trodden How they unhusk their Rice Other sorts of Corn among them Coracan Tanna Moung Omb. CHAP. IV. Of their Fruits and Trees GReat Variety of Fruits and delicious The best Fruits where ever they grow reserved for the Kings use Betel-Nuts The Trees The Fruit The Leaves The Skins and their use The Wood. The Profit the Fruit yields Iacks another choyce Fruit. Iombo another Other Fruits found in the Woods Fruits common with other Parts of India The Tallipot the rare use of the Leaf The Pith good to eat The Kettule Yields a delicious juice The Skin bears strings as strong as Wyer The Wood its Nature and Use. The Cinnamon Tree The Bark The Wood The Leaf The Fruit. The Orula The Fruit good for Physic and Dying Water made of it will brighten rusty Iron and serve instead of Ink. The Dounekaia The Capita Rattans Their Fruit. Canes The Betel tree The Bo-gauhah or God-Tree CHAP. V. Of their Roots Plants Herbs Flowers ROots for Food The manner of their growing Boyling Herbs Fruits for Sawce European Herbs and Plants among them Herbs for Medicine Their Flowers A Flower that serves instead of a Dyal called Sindric-mal Picha-mals Hop-mals CHAP. VI. Of their Beasts Tame and VVild. Insects WHat Beasts the Country produceth Deer no bigger than Hares Other Creatures rare in their kind The way how a wild Deer was catched for the King Of their Elephants The way of catching Elephants Their understanding Their Nature The dammage they do Serve the King for executing his Malefactors Their Disease The Sport they make Ants of divers sorts How one sort of them called Coddias came to sting so terribly These Ants very mischievous The curious Buildings of the Vaeos another kind of them The manner of their death Bees of several kinds Some build on Trees like Birds The people eat the Bees as well as their Honey Leaches that ly in the grass and creep on Travaylers Legs The Remedies they use against them Apes and Monkeys of divers kinds How they catch Wild Beasts How they take the Wild
Boar. CHAP. VII Of their Birds Fish Serpents and Commodities THeir Birds Such as will be taught to speak Such as are beautiful for Colour A strange Bird. Water-Fowls resembling Ducks and Swans Peacocks The King keeps Fowl Their Fish How they catch them in Ponds And how in Rivers Fish kept and fed for the King's Pleasure Serpents The Pimberah of a prodigious bigness The Polonga The Noya The Fable of the Noya and Polonga â— The Carowala Gerendo Hickanella Democulo a great Spider Kobbera-guson a Creature like an Aligator Tolla-guion The people eat Rats Precoius Stones Minerals and other Commodities The People discouraged from Industry by the Tyranny they are under PART II. CHAP. I. Of the present King of Cande THE Government of this Island The King's Lineage His Person Meen and Habit. His Queen and Children His Palace Situation and Description of itâ— Strong Guards about his Court Negro's Watch next his Person Spies sent out a Nights His Attendants Handsome Women belong to his Kitchin His Women And the Privileges of the Towns where they live His State when he walks in his Palace or goes abroad His reception of Ambassadors His delight in them CHAP. II. Concerning the Kings Manners Vices Recreation Religion SPare in his Diet. After what manner he eats Chast himself and requires his Attendants to be so He committed Incest but such as was allowable His Pride How the People address to the King They give him Divine Worship Pleased with high Titles An instance or two of the King 's haughty Stomach He slights the defection of one of his best Generals He scorns to receive his own Revenues The Dutch serve their ends upon his Pride by flattering him The People give the way to the Kings foul Cloths His natural Abilities and deceitful temper His wise saying concerning Run-awayes He is naturally Cruel The Dogs follow Prisoners to Execution The Kings Prisoners their Misery He punisheth whole Generations for the sake of one The sad condition of young Gentlemen that wait on his Person His Pleasure-houses Pastimes abroad His Diversions at home His Religion He stands affected to the Christian Religion CHAP. III. Of the King's Tyrannical Reign HIS Government Tyrannical His Policy He farms out his Countrey for Service His Policy to secure himself against Assassinations and Rebellions Another Point of his Policy Another which is to find his People work to do A Vast work undertaken and finished by the King viz. Bringing Water divers Miles thro Rocks Mountains and Valleys unto his Palace The turning this Water did great injury to the People But he little regards his Peoples Good By craft at once both pleaseth and punisheth his People In what Labours he employs his People He Poisons his only Son The extraordinary Lamentation at the Death of his Sister His Craft and Cruelty shewn at once CHAP. IV. Of his Revenues and Treasure THe King's Rents brought three times in a year The first is accompanied with a great Festival How the Nobles bring their Gifts or Duties Inferior Persons present their New-years Gifts What Taxes and Rents the People pay The accidental incoms of the Crown The Profits that accrue to the King from Corn-Lands Custom of Goods Imported formerly paid His Treasuries He has many Elephants Great Treasures thrown into the River formerly The Treasure he most valueth CHAP. V. Of the King's great Officers and the Governors of the Provinces THe two Greatest Officers in the Land The next Great Officers None can put to Death but the King Theso Dissauvas are Durante bene placito Whom the King makes Dissauvas And their Profits and Honours Other benefits belonging to other Officers They must always reside at Court The Officers under them viz. The Cour-lividani The Cong-conna The Courli-atchila The Liannah The Vndia The Monannah Some Towns exempt from the Dissauvas Officers Other Officers yet These Places obtained by Bribes But remain only during pleasure Country Courts They may appeal Appeals to the King How the Great Officers Travel upon Public Business Their Titles and signs of State The misery that succeeds their Honour The foolish ambition of the Men and Women of this Country CHAP. VI. Of the King's Strength and Wars THe King 's Military affairs The natural strength of his Countrey Watches and Thorn-gates None to pass from the King's City without Pasports His Soldiery All men of Arms wait at Court The Soldiers have Lands allotted them insted of Pay To prevent the Soldiers from Plotting The manner of sending them out on Expeditions Requires all the Captains singly to send him intelligence of their affairs When the War is finished they may not return without order The condition of the Common Soldiers He conceals his purpose when he sends out his Army Great Exploits done and but little Courage They work chiefly by Stratagems They understand the manner of Christian Armies Seldom hazard a Battel If they prove unsuccessful how he punishes them CHAP. VII A Relation of the Rebellion made against the King A Comet ushereth in the Rebellion The Intent of the Conspirators How the Rebellion began The King flyes They pursue him faintly They go to the Prince and Proclaim him King The carriage of the Prince Upon the Prince's flight the Rebels scatter and run A great Man declares for the King For the space of eight or ten days nothing but Killing one another to approve themselves good Subjects The King Poysons his Son to prevent a Rebellion hereafter His ingratitude Another Comet but without any bad Effects following it PART III. CHAP. I. Concerning the Inhabitants of this Island THe several Inhabitants of the Island The Original of the Chingulays Wild Men. Who pay an acknowledgement to the King How they bespeak Arrows to be made them They rob the Carriers Hourly wild Men Trade with the People Once made to serve the King in his War Their Habit and Religion A skirmish about their Bounds Curious in their Arrows How they preserve their Flesh. How they take Elephants The Dowries they give Their disposition The Inhabitants of the Mountains differ from those of the Low-Lands Their good opinion of Virtue tho they practice it not Superstitions How they Travel A brief character of them The Women their habit and nature CHAP. II. Concerning their different Honours Ranks and Qualities HOw they distinguish themselves according to their Qualities They never Marry beneath their rank In case a Man lyes with a Woman of inferior rank Their Noble men How distinguished from others The distinction by Caps Of the Hondrews or Noble men two sorts An Honour like unto Knighthood Goldsmiths Blacksmiths Carpenters and Painters The Privilege and State of the Smiths Craftsmen Barbers Potters Washers Iaggory-makers The Poddah Weavors Basket-makers Mat-makers The lower ranks may not assume the habit or names of the higher Slaves Beggers The reason the Beggers became so base and mean a People They live well Their Contest with the Weavors about dead Cows Incest common among them A Punishment to deliver
's craft to get the Ship as well as the Men. The Captains Order to them on board the Ship The Captains second Message to his Ship The Ships Company refuse to bring up the Ship The Captain orders the Ship to depart The Lading of Cloath remained untouched The probable reason of our Surprize The number of those that were left on the Island The Dissauva departs CHAP. II. How we were carried up in the Country and disposed of there and of the Sickness Sorrow and Death of the Captain THey intend to attempt an Escape but are prevented Their Condition commiserated by the People They are distributed into divers Towns An Order comes from the King to bring them up into the Country How they were treated on the way in the Woods And in the Towns among the Inhabitants They are brought near Cande and there separated The Captain and his Son and two more quartered together Parted How they fared The Captain and his Son placed in Coos-swát Monies scarce with them But they had good Provisions without it The Town where they were sickly How they passed their time Both fall Sick Deep grief seizes the Captain Their Sickness continues Their Boys Disobedience adds to their trouble His excessive Sorrow His Discourse and Charge to his Son before his Death His Death and Burial The Place where he lies Upon the Captain's Death a Message sent from Court to his Son CHAP. III. How I lived after my Father's Death And of the Condition of the rest of the English and how it fared with them And of our Interview HIs chief Imployment is Reading He looseth his Ague How he met with an English Bible in that Country Struck into a great Passion at the first sight of the Book He caâ—ts with himself how to get it Where the rest of the English were bestowed Kept from one another a good while but after permitted to see each other No manner of Work laid upon them They begin to pluck up their hearts What course they took for Cloths Their Fare What Employment they afterwards followed How the English domineered What Satisfaction one of them received from a Potter A scuffle between the English and Natives The Author after a year sees his Countreymen Their Conference and Entertainment He consults with his Countreymen concerning a future livelihood The difficulty he met with in having his Rice brought him undressed He reasons with the People about his Allowance Builds him an House Follows Business and thrives Some attempted running away and were catched Little encouragement for those that bring back Run-awayes CHAP. IV. Concerning some other Englishmen detained in that Countrey THe Persia Merchant-men Captives before them Plundred by the Natives Brought up to the King They hoped to have their liberty but were mistaken A ridiculous action of these Men. They had a mind to Beef and how they got it A passage of A NEW MAP of the Kingdom of CANDY UDA in the Island of CEYLON their Courage Two of this Company taken into Court The One out of favour His End The other out of Favour And his lamentable Death The King sends special Order concerning their good Vsage Mr. Vassal's prudence upon his Receit of Letters The King bids him read his Letters The King pleased to hear of Englands Victory over Holland Private discourse between the King and Vassal CHAP. V. Concerning the means that were used for our Deliverance And what happened to us in the Rebellion And how we were setled afterwards MEans made to the King for their Liberty Upon which they all meet at the City Word sent them from the Court that they had their Liberty All in general refuse the Kings Service Commanded still to wait at the Palace During which a Rebellion breaks out They are in the midst of it and in great danger The Rebels take the English with them designing to engage them on their side But they resolve neither to meddle nor make The day being turned they fear the King but he justifies them They are driven to beg in the High-wayes Sent into New Quarters and their Pensions settled again Fall to Trading and have more freedom than before CHAP. VI. A Continuation of the Author 's particular Condition after the Rebellion AT his new Quarters builds him another House The People counsel him to Marry which he seems to listen to Here he lived two years A Fort built near him by the Dutch but afterwards taken by the King He and three more removed out of that Countrey and settled in a dismal place A Comfortable Message brought hither from the King concerning them Placed there to punish the People for a Crime Weary of this Place By a piece of craft he gets down to his old Quarters Began the world anew the third time Plots to remove himself Is encouraged to buy a piece of Land The situation and condition of it Buys it Builds an House on it Leaves Laggendenny Settled at his new Purchase with three more living with him Their freedom and Trade His Family reduced to two CHAP. VII A Return to the rest of the English with some further accounts of them And some further Discourse of the Authors course of Life THey confer together about the lawfulness of marrying with the Native women He resolves upon a single life What Employments they follow The respect and credit they live in A Chingulay punished for beating an English man An English man preferred at Court Some English serve the King in his Wars Who now live miserably He returns to speak of himself Plots and consults about an Escape A description of his House He takes up a new Trade and thrives on it His Allowance paid him out of the Kings Store-Houses CHAP. VIII How the Author had like to have been received into the Kings Service and what Means he used to avoid it He meditates and attempts an Escape but is often prevented HE voluntarily forgoes his Pension Summoned before the King Informed that he is to be preferred at Court But is resolved to refuse it The answer he makes to the Great Man Who sends him to another Great Officer Stayes in that City expecting his Doom Goes home but is sent for again Having escaped the Court-Service falls to his former course of life His Pedling forwarded his Escape The most probable course to take was Northwards He and his Companion get three days Iourney Northwards But return back again Often attempt to fly this way but still hindred In those Parts is bad water but they had an Antidote against it They still improve in the knowledg of the Way He meets with his Black Boy in these Parts Who was to guide him to the Dutch But disappointed An extraordinary drought for three or four years together CHAP. IX How the Author began his Escape and got onward on his way about an hundred miles THeir Last and Successful attempt The Way they went They design for Anarodgburro Turn out of the way to avoyd the King's
of their Rice their chief Sustenance These Rivers are generally very rocky and so un-navigable In them are great quantities of Fish and the greater for want of Skill in the People to catch them The main River of all is called Mavelagonga Which proceeds out of the Mountain called Adams Peak of which afterwards it runs thro the whole Land Northward and falls into the Sea at Trenkimalay It may be an Arrows flight over in bredth but not Navigable by reason of the many Rocks and great falls in it Towards the Sea it is full of Aligators but on the Mountains none at all It is so deep that unless it be mighty dry weather a man cannot wade over it unless towards the head of it They use little Canoues to pass over it but there are no Bridges built over it being so broad and the Stream in time of Rains which in this Countrey are very great runs so high that they cannot make them neither if they could would it be permitted for the King careth not to make his Countrey easie to travel but desires to keep it intricate This River runs within a mile or less of the City of Cande In some places of it full of Rocks in others clear for three or four miles There is another good large River running through Cotemul and falls into that before mentioned There are divers others brave Rivers that water the Countrey tho none Navigable for the cause abovesaid The Land is generally covered with Woods excepting the Kingdome of Ovuah and the Counties of Oudipallet and Dolusbaug which are naturally somewhat clear of them It is most populous about the middle least near about by the Sea how it is with those Parts under the Hollander I know not The Northern parts are somewhat sickly by reason of bad water the rest very healthful The Valleys between their Hills are many of them quagmires and most of them full of brave Springs of pure water Which watery Valleys are the best sort of Land for their Corn as requiring much moisture as shall be told in its place On the South side of Conde Vda is an Hill supposed to be the highest on this Island called in the Chingulay Language Hamalell but by the Portuguez and the Europaean Nations Adams Peak It is sharp like a Sugar-loaf and on the Top a flat Stone with the print of a foot like a mans on it but far bigger being about two foot long The people of this Land count it meritorious to go and worship this impression and generally about their New Year which is in March they Men Women and Children go up this vast and high Mountain to worship The manner of which I shall write hereafter when I come to describe their Religion Out of this Mountain arise many fine Rivers which run thro the Land some to the Westward some to the Southward and the main River viz. Mavelagonga before mentioned to the Northward This Kingdom of Conde Vda is strongly fortified by Nature For which way soever you enter into it you must ascend vast and high mountains and descend little or nothing The wayes are many but very narrow so that but one can go abreast The Hills are covered with Wood and great Rocks so that 't is scarce possible to get up any where but onely in the paths in all which there are gates made of Thorns the one at the bottom the other at the top of the Hills and two or three men always set to watch who are to examine all that come and go and see what they carry that Letters may not be conveyed nor Prisoners or other Slaves run away These Watches in case of opposition are to call out to the Towns near who are to assist them They oftentimes have no Arms for they are the people of the next Towns but their Weapons to stop people are to charge them in the Kings Name which disobeyed is so severely punished that none dare resist These Watches are but as Sentinels to give notice for in case of War and Danger the King sends Commanders and Souldiers to ly here But of this enough These things being more proper to be related when we come to discourse of the Policy and Strength of the Kingdom The one part of this Island differs very much from the other both in respect of the Seasons and the Soyl. For when the Westwardly Winds blow then it rains on the West side of the Island and that is the season for them to till their grounds And at the same time on the East side is very fair and dry weather and the time of their Harvest On the contrary when the East Winds blow it is Tilling time for those that inhabit the East Parts and Harvest to those on the West So that Harvest is here in one part or other all the Year long These Rains and this dry weather do part themselves about the middle of the Landâ— as oftentimes I have seen being on the one side of a Mountain called Cauragas hiâ—g rainy and wet weather and as soon as I came on the other dry and so exceeding hot that I could scarcely walk on the ground being as the manner there is barefoot It rains far more in the High-Lands of Conde Vda then in the Low-Lands beneath the Hills The North End of this Island is much subject to dry weather I have known it for five or six Years together so dry having no Rains and there is no other means of water but that being but three Springs of running water that I know or ever heard of that they could not plow nor sow and scarcely could dig Wells deep enough to get water to drink and when they got it its tast was brackish At which time in other Parts there wanted not Rain Whither the Northern People were forced to come to buy food Let thus much suffice to have spoken of the Countreys Soyl and Nature of this Island in general I will proceed to speak of the Cities and Towns of it together with some other Remarkable Matters thereunto belonging CHAP. II. Concerning the Chief Cities and Towns of this Island IN this Island are several Places where they say formerly stood Cities and still retain the Name tho little or nothing of Building be now to be seen But yet there are Five Cities now standing which are the most Eminent and where the King hath Palaces and Goods yet even these all of them except that wherein his Person is are ruined and fallen to decay The First is the City of Candy so generally called by the Christians probably from Conde which in the Chingulays Language signifies Hills for among them it is situated but by the Inhabitants called Hingodagul-neure as much as to say the City of the Chingulay people and Mauneur signifying the Chief or Royal City This is the Chief or Metro-political City of the whole Island It is placed in the midst of the Island in
they die naturally they are not The Farmers all in general besides their measures of Corn pay a certain Duty in Money with their Rents If they Sell or Alienate their Inheritances the Kings accustomed Duties must not be diminished whosoever buyeth or enjoyeth them Neither is here any Land which doth not either pay or do some Duty to the King Only one case expected and that is if they give or dedicate Land to a Priest as an Alms or Deed of Charity in God's Name On that there is never any more Tax or Duty to be imposed as being sacrilegâ—â—ns to take ought from one that belongs to the Temple Formerly the King had the Benefit of the trade of two Ports Cotiar and Portalone unto each of which used to come yearly some twenty or thirty Sail of small Vessel which brought considerable Customs in But now the Hollander has deprived him of both suffering no Vessels to come The King hath several Treasure houses and in several places in Cities and Towns where always are Guards of Soldiers to watch them both day and night I cannot certainly declare all that is contained in them There are Precious Stones such as his Land affords mony but not very much Cloth and what he hath got by Shipwrack Presents that have been sent him from other Nations Elephants-teeth Wax good store of Arms as Guns Bowes and Arrows Pikes Halberds Swords Ammunition store of Knives Iron Tallipat-Leaves whereof one will cover a large Tent Bedsteads Tables Boxes Mats of all sorts I will not adventure to declare further the Contents of his Treasuries lesâ— I may be guilty of a mistake But sure I am he hath plenty of all such things as his Land affords For he is very Provident and Careful to be well furnished with all things And what he does abound with he had rather it should lye and rot then be imbezelled and wasted that is distributed among his Servants or Slaves of which he hath great store He hath some hundreds oâ— Elephants which he keepeth tame and could have as many more as he pleaseth but altho not catched yet they are all his and at his Command when he pleaseth It is frequently reported and I suppose is true that both he and his Predecessors by the distress they have been driven to by the Portuguezes have cast some store of Riches into the great River Maâ—velagonga running by the City in deep holes among Rocks which is irrecoverable and into a made Pond by the Palace in the City of Cande or Hingodegulâ—neur Wherein are kept to this day two Alligators so that none dare go into the water for fear of being devoured by them And often times they do destroy Cows that go to drink there But this Pond by cutting the Bank might easily be drained To conclude the Land that is under his jurisdiction is all his with the People their Estates and whatsoever if affords or is therein But that which he doth chiefly value and esteem are Toys and Novelties as Hawks Horses Dogs strange Birds and Beasts and particularly a spotted Elephant and good Arms of which he hath no want CHAP. V. Of the Kings great Officers and the Governours of the Provincesâ— THere are two who are the greatest and highest Officers in the Land They are called Adigars I may term them Chief Iudges under whom is the Government oâ— the Cities and the Countries also in the Vacancy of other Governors All People have liberty in default of Iustice to appeal to these Adigaâ—s â— or if their causes and diffeâ—rences be not decided by their Governours according to their minds To these there are many Officers and Sergeants belonging All which to be known carry slaves in their hands like to Bandâ—eâ— the crooked end uppermost which none but they dare carry The sight of which slaves upon what message soever they be sent signifies as much as the Adigars Hand and Seal If the Adigar be ignorant in what belongâ— to his place and office these men do instruct him what and how to do The like is in all other places which the King bestows if they know not what belongs to their places there are Inferiour Officers under them that do teach and direct them how to Act. Next under the Adigars are the Dissauva's who are Governours over Provinces and Counties of the Land Each Province and County has its Governour but all Governours are not Dissauva's nor other great Officers known by other names of Titles as Râ—terautâ— and â—â—â—anies â— But all these Generals or Chief Commanders who have a certain number of Soldiers under them These great men are to provide that good orders be kept in the Countries over which they are placed and that the Kings accustomed dutie be brought in due season to the Count. They have Power also to decide controversies between the People of their Iurisdiction and to punish contentions and disorderly personsâ— which they do chiefly by amercing a Fine from them which is for their Proâ—fit for it is there own and also by committing them Prison Into which when they are once fallen no means without mony can get them out again But be the â—acâ— never so hainous Murther it â—ell they can put none to death The sentence of death being pronounced only by the King They also are sent upon expeditions in War with their Soldiers and give Attendance and watch at Court in their appointed Stations These Dissauva's are also to see that the Soldiers in their Countries do come in due season and order for that purpose They are appointed by the King himself not for life but during his good pleasure And when they are dead or removed oftentimes their places lay void somtimes for months somtimes peâ—haps for yearsâ— during which time the Adigar rules and governs those Countries and for his labour receiveth all such Incoms and Profits as are accustomed and of right do belong to the Governour The King when he advances any to be Dissauva's or to any other great Office regards not their ability or sufficiency to perform the same only they must be persons of good rank and gentile extracâ—ion and they are all naturally discreet and very solid and so the siâ—ter for the Kings employment When he firsâ— promotes them he shews them great testimonies of his Love and â—avour especially to those that are Christians in whose service he imposeth greater confidence than in his own people concluding that they will make more conâ—â—â—ence of their ways and be more â—aithful in their Office and giveâ— them a Sword the hilâ— all carved and inlaid with Silver and Brass very handsomly the Scabberd also covered with Silver a Knife and Hâ—lbeâ—d and lastly a Town or Towns for their maintenance The benefit of which iâ— that all the Profitâ— which before the King received from those Townsâ— now accrues unâ—o the Kings Officer These Towns are composed of all And in the discharge of this his Office
is far inferior to that of Cande and as far beyond that of Digligy where he now is Nillemby lyeth some fourteen miles southward of the City of Cande In the place where this City stands it is reported by Tradition an Hare gave chase after a Dog upon which it was concluded that place was fortunate and so indeed it proved to the King It is invironed with Hills and Woods The time appointed to put their design in action was the one and twentieth of December 1664. about Twelve in the night And having gotten a select company of men how many well I know not but as is supposed not above two hundred neither needed they many here having so many Confederates in the Court in the dead of the night they came marching into the City The Watch was thought to be of their confedracy but if he were not it was not in his power to resist them Howbeit afterwards whether he were not he was execued for it The said men being thus in the City hastened and came down to the Court and â—ell upon the great men which then â—aid without the Palace upon Watch since which by the Kings order they lye allways within the Palace For they were well informed before who were for them and who not Many who before were not intrusted to know of their design were killed and wounded and those that could seeing the slaughter of others got in unto the King Who was walled about with a Clay-wall thatched that was all his strength Yet these people feared to assault him laying still until the morning At which time the King made way to flee fearing to stay in his Palace endeavouring to get unto the mountains and had not with him above fifty persons There were horses went with him but the wayes were so bad that he could not ride They were fain to drive an Elephant before him to break the way through the Woods that the King with his followers might pass As he fled they pursued him but at a great distance fearing to approach within shot of him For he wanted not for excellent good Fowling pieces which are made there So he got safe upon a Mountain called Gauluda some fifteen miles distant where many of the Inhabitants that were near resorted to him Howbeit had the people of the Rebel-party been resolute who were the major part almost all the Land this Hill could not have secured him but they might have driven him from thence there being many ways by which they might have ascended There is not far from thence a high and peaked hill called Mondamounour where there is but one way to get up and that very steep at the top are great stones hanging in chains to let fall when need requireth Had he fled hither there had been no way to come at him But he never will adventure to go where he may be stopped in The People having thus driven away the old King marched away to the City of Cande and proclaimed the Prince King giving out to us English who were there that what they had done they had not done rashly but upon good Consideration and with good advice the King by his evil Government having occasioned it who went about to destroy both them and their Countrey As in keeping Ambassadours disanulling of Trade detaining of all people that come upon his Land and killing of his Subjects and their Children and not suffering them to enjoy nor to see their Wives And all this was contrary to reason and as they were informed to the Government of other Countries The Prince being young and tender and having never been out of the Palace nor ever seen any but those that attended on his person as it seemed afterwards was scared to see so many coming and bowing down to him and telling him that he was King and his Father was fled into the mountains Neither did he say or act any thing as not owning the business or else not knowing what to say or do This much discouraged the Rebells to see they had no more thanks for their pains And so all things stood until the five and twentieth of December at which time they intended to march and fall upon the old King But in the Interim the Kings Sister Flyes away with the Prince from the Court into the Countrey near unto the King which so amazed the Rebells that the mony and cloth and plunder which they had taken and were going to distribute to the Strangers to gain their good will and assistance they scattered about and fled Others of their Company seeing the Business was overthrown to make amends for their former fact turned and fell upon their Consorts killing and taking Prisoners all they could The people were now all up in arms one against another killing whom they pleas'd only saying they were Rebells and taking their goods By this time a great man had drawn out his men and stood in the Field and there turned and publickly declared for the old King and so went to catch the Rebells that were scattered abroad Who when he understood that they were all fled and no whole party or body left to resist him marched into the City killing all that he could catch And so all revolted and came back to the King again whilst he only lay still upon his mountain The King needed not to take care to catch or execute the Rebells for they themselves out of their zeal to him and to make amends for what was past imprisoned and killed all they met the Plunder being their own This continued for some eight or ten days Which the King hearing of commanded to kill no more but that whom they took they should imprison until examination passed which was not so much to save innocent persons from violence as that he might have the Rebells to torment them and make them confess of their Confederates For he spared none that seemed guilty some to this day lye chained in Prison being â—equestred of all their Estates and beg for their living One of the most noted Rebells called Ambom Wellaraul he sent to Columba to the Dutch to execute supposing they would invent new Tortures for him beyond what he knew of But they instead of executing him cut off his chains and kindly entertained him and there he still is in the City of Columba reserving him for some designs they may hereafter have against the Countrey The King could but not be sensible that it was his rigorous government that had occasioned this Rebellion yet amended it not in the least but on the contrary like to Rehoboam added yet more to the Peoples yoak And being thus safely re-instated in his Kingdom again and observing that the life of his Son gave encouragement to the Rebellion resolved to prevent it for the future by taking him away Which upon the next opportunity he did by Poysoning him which I have related before But one thing there is that argues him
fruit upon any that might ask or desire it But before this dedicated fruit is lawful for them to use they must carry some of it to the Temple This for certain I can affirm That oftentimes the Devil doth cry with an audible Voice in the Night 't is very shrill almost like the barking of a Dog This I have often heard my self but never heard that he did any body any harm Only this observation the Inhabitants of the Land have made of this Voice and I have made it also that either just before or very suddenly after this Voice the King always cuts off People To believe that this is the Voice of the Devil these reasons urge because there is no Creature known to the Inhabitants that cry like it and because it will on a sudden depart from one place and make a noise in another quicker than any fowl could fly and because the very Dogs will tremble and shake when they hear it and 't is so accounted by all the People This Voice is heard only in Cande Vda and never in the Low Lands When the Voice is near to a Chingulaye's house he will curse the Devil calling him Geremoi goulammah Beef-eating Slave be gone be damned cut his Nose off beat him a pieces And such like words of Railery and this they will speak aloud with noise and passion and threatning This Language I have heard them bestow upon the Voice and the Voice upon this always ceaseth for a while and seems to depart being heard at a greater distance When smaller Devils do fail them they repair unto the great one Which they do after this manner They prepare an Offering of Victuals ready dressed one dish whereof is always a red Cock Which they do as frequently offer to the Devil as Papists do Wax-Candles to Saints This Offering they carry out into a remote place in the Woods and prostrate it to the honour and service of the Grand Devil before which there are men in an horrible disguise like Devils with Bells about their Legs and Doublets of a strange fashion dancing and singing to call if it were possible the Devil himself to come and eat of the Sacrifices they have brought the sick Party is all the while present I have hitherto spoke of their ordinary and daily Worship and their private and occasional Devotions besides these they have their solemn and annual Festivals Now of these there are two sorts some belonging to their Gods that govern the Earth and all things referring to this life and some belonging to the Buddou whose Province is to take care of the Soul and future well-being of Men. I shall first mention the Festivals of the former sort They are two or three That they may therefore honour these Gods and procure their aid and assistance they do yearly in the Month of Iune or Iuly at a New Moon observe a solemn Feast and general Meeting called Perahar but none are compelled and some go to one Pagoda and some to another The greatest Solemnity is performed in the City of Cande but at the same time the like Festival or Perahar is observed in divers other Cities and Towns of the Land The Perahar at Cande is ordered after this manner The Priest bringeth forth a painted stick about which strings of Flowers are hanged and so it is wrapped in branched Silk some part covered and some not before which the People bow down and worship each one presenting him with an Offering according to his free will These free-will Offerings being received from the People the Priest takes his painted stick on his Shoulder having a Cloth tied about his mouth to keep his breath from defiling this pure piece of Wood and gets up upon an Elephant all covered with white Cloth upon which he rides with all the Triumph that King and Kingdom can afford thro all the Streets of the City But before him go first some Forty or Fifty Elephants with brass Bells hanging on each side of them which tingle as they go Next follow men dressed up like Gyants which go dancing along agreeable to a Tradition they have that anciently there were huge men that could carry vast Burthens and pull up Trees by the Roots c. After them go a great multitude of Drummers and Trumpetters and Pipers which make such a great and loud noise that nothing else besides them can be heard Then followeth a Company of Men dancing along and after these Women of such Casts or Trades as are necessary for the service of the Pagoda as Potters and Washer-women each cast goeth in Companies by themselves three and three in a row holding one another by the hand and between each Company go Drummers Pipers and Dancers After these comes an Elephant with two Priests on his back one whereof is the Priest before spoken of carrying the painted stick on his Shoulder who represents Allout neur Dio that is the God and Maker of Heaven and Earth The other sits behind him holding a round thing like an Vmbrello over his head to keep off Sun or Rain Then within a yard after him on each hand of him follow two other Elephants mounted with two other Priests with a Priest sitting behind each holding Vmbrello's as the former one of them represents Cotteragom Dio and the other Potting Dio. These three Gods that ride here in Company are accounted of all other the greatest and chiefest each one having his residence in a several Pagoda Behind go their Cook-women with things like whisks in their hands to scare away flies from them but very fine as they can make themselves Next after the Gods and their Attendance go some Thousands of Ladies and Gentlewomen such as are of the best sort of the Inhabitants of the Land arrayed in the bravest manner that their Ability can afford and so go hand in hand three in a row At which time all the Beauties on Zelone in their Bravery do go to attend upon their Gods in their Progress about the City Now are the Streets also all made clean and on both sides all along the Streets Poles stuck up with Flags and Pennons hanging at the tops of them and adorned with boughs and branches of Coker Nut-Trees hanging like Fringes and lighted Lamps all along on both sides of the Streets both by day and night Last of all go the Commanders sent from the King to see these Ceremonies decently performed with their Soldiers after them And in this manner they ride all round about the City once by day and once by night This Festival lasts from the New Moon until the Full Moon Formerly the King himself in Person used to ride on Horseback with all his Train before him in this Solemnity but now he delights not in these Shows Always before the Gods set out to take their Progress they are set in the Pagoda-Door a good while that the People may come to worship and bring their Offerings unto them during which
into the King's Exchequer When they would be merry and particularly at their great Festival in the New Moon of Iune or Iuly before mentioned they have People that shew pretty tricks and feats of Activity before them A man sets a Pole of seven or eight foot long upon his Breast a Boy gets to the top of this Pole and leans with his Belly upon the end of it and thus the man danceth with the Pole on his Breast and the Boy on it and but little holding the Pole A man takes four Arrows with blades about a foot long they are tied one cross another and so laid upon the end of a Pole which rests upon the man's Breast On a sudden he squatts down upon the ground and the four Arrows all fall on the four sides of him sticking in the ground Two Cross-bows stand bent one opposite to the other charged with Arrows drawn up to the heads they are placed just so high as they may fly over a man's back when he lyes flat upon the ground A man danceth between them and shows Tricks and when he is pleased he touches a string made fast to both their trickers at which they both instantly Discharge and he falls flat down between them and the Arrows fly over his back which if they hit him undoubtedly fly thro his Body A Woman takes two naked Swords under each Arm one and another she holds in her mouth then fetcheth a run and turns clear over and never touches the ground till she lights on her feet agaâ—n holding all her Swords fast There are divers other Diversions of this nature too large to mention At their leisure when their affairs will permit they commonly meet at places built for strangers and way-faring men to lodge in in their Language called Amblomb where they sit chewing Betel and looking one upon the other very gravely and solidly discoursing concerning the Affairs at Court between the King and the great Men and what Employment the People of the City are busied about For as it is the chief of their business to serve the King so the chief of their discourse is concerning such matters Also they talk of their own affairs about Cattel and Husbandry And when they meet with Outlandish-men they enquire about the Laws and Government of their Countrey and if it be like theirs and what Taxes and Duties we are bound to pay and perform to our King c. And this manner of passing their leisure time they account the greatest Recreation Drunkenness they do greatly abhor neither are there many that do give themselves to it Tobacco likewise they account a Vice but yet is used both by Men and Women but more eaten than drunk in Pipes But above all things Betel leaves they are most fond of and greatly delighted in when they are going to Bed they first fill their mouths with it and keep it there until they wake and then rise and spit it out and take in more So that their mouths are no longer clear of it than they are eating their Victuals This is the general practice both of Men and Women insomuch that they had rather want Victuals or Cloths than be without it and my long practice in eating it brought me to the same condition And the Reasons why they thus eat it are First Because it is wholsom Secondly To keep their mouths perfumed for being chewed it casts a brave scent And Thirdly To make their Teeth black For they abhor white Teethâ— saying That is like a Dog The better sort of Women as Gentlewomen or Ladies have no other Pastime but to sit and chew Betel swallowing the spittle and spitting out the rest And when Friends come to see and visit one the other they have as good Society thus to sit and chew Betel as we have to drink Wine together But to describe the particular manner of their eating these Leaves They carry about with them a small Box filled with wet Lime and as often as they are minded to eat Betel they take some of this Lime as much as they judge convenient and spread it thin upon their leaâ— then they take some slices of the Betel-nut and wrap them up in the leaf and so eat it rubbing their Teeth therewith ever and anon to make them black Thus they eat it generally but sometimes they eat it otherwise according as they please neither spreading the Lime on the leaf nor rolling up slices of the Nut into it But they will take a little of the Lime out of their Box between their Fingers and put it in their mouths and eat of the Nut and the Leaâ— by themselves But whensoever they eat of the Betel leaf the Lime and the Nut always accompany it They have a pretty shift of making their Lime when they chance to need it as they are travailing They take certain Shells almost resembling Snails Shells which they pick up in fresh water Rivers washed a shorâ— with the water beating upon the Rocks These Shells mixed with Charcoal and â—ire they wrap up in a wisp of Rice-straw and bind them together in a round bundle of a convenient bigness tying all up with green Wit hs that they may not fall in pieces By a With some four foot long they hold it in their hands swinging it round over their heads Which motion blows the Coâ—ls and makes them burnâ— And as they are weary with swinging it in one hand they shift and take it in the other and so keep swinging it for halâ— an hour or thereâ—abouts By which time it will be burnt to very good Lime and most part of the straw consumed but it is still kept together by the green Wit hs Then they take it and wet it in water and put it into their Pots or Boxes for their use The Lime made of white sâ—one burnt in a Kiln they do indifferently use to eat with their Leaves as well as this made of Shells now described CHAP. IX Of their Laws and Language THere are three things that ingenious men may possibly be inquisitive after which have not yet been professedly handled their Laws their Language and their Learning Concerning the first here are no Laws but the Will of the King and what soever proceeds out of his mouth is an immutable Law Nevertheless they have certain antient usages and Customes that do prevail and are observed as Laws and Pleading them in their Courts and before their Governors will go a great way To hint some of them their Lands are hereditary and do descend from Parents to their Children But the eldest son by Priviledg of Birth right does not possess and enjoy all the Land but if the Father please he can divide it among his Children Yet in case the eldest son does â—njoy the Land then without dispute he is to maintain his Mother and her Children until they come to years of ability to provide for themselves They have a
it but he told them the plain truth that it was not customary there to release white Men. For saying which they railed at him calling him Popish Dog and Iesuitical Rogue supposing he spoke as he wished it might be But afterward to their grief they found it to be true as he told them Their entertainment was excellently good according to the poor condition of the Countrey but they thought it otherwise very mean and not according to the King's order Therefore that the King might be informed how they were abused each man took the Limb of an Hen in his hand and marched rank and file in order thro the Streets with it in their hands to the Court as a sign to the great Men whereby they might see how illy they were served thinking hereby the King might come to hear of their misusage and so they might have order to be fed better afterwards But this proved Sport to the Noblemen who well knew the fare of the Countrey laughing at their ignorance to complain where they had so little cause And indeed afterwards they themselves laughed at this action of theirs and were half ashamed of it when they came to a better understanding of the Nature of the Countreys Diet. Yet notwithstanding being not used to such short Commons of Flesh tho they had Rice in abundance and having no Money to buy more they had a desire to kill some Cows that they might eat their Bellies full of Beef but made it somewhat a point of Conscience whether it might be lawful or not to take them without leave Upon which they apply themselves to the old Father abovesaid desiring him to solve this Case of Conscience Who was very ready to give them a Dispensation And told them That forasmuch as the Chingulayes were their Enemies and had taken their Bodies it was very lawful for them to satisfie their Bodies with their Goods And the better to animate them in this design bid them bring him a piece that he might partake with them So being encouraged by the old Father they wen ton boldly in their intended Business Now if you would have an account of the Metal and Manfulness of these men as you have already had a tast of ours take this passage The Iack Fruit the Kings Officers often gather wheresoever it grows and give to the Kings Elephants and they may gather it in any mans grounds without the Owners leave being for the Kings use Now these English men were appointed to dwell in an house that formerly belonged unto a Noble man whom the King had cut off and seized upon it In the ground belonging to this House stood a Iack Tree full of Fruit. Some of the Kings men came thither to gather some of them to feed the Elephants But altho the English had free liberty to gather what they could eat or desire yet they would permit none but themselves to meddle with them but took the Officers by the shoulders and turned them out of the Garden altho there were more a great many than they could tell what to do with The Great men were so Civil that notwithstanding this Affront they laid no Punishment upon them But the Event of this was that a few days after they were removed from this house to another where was a Garden but no Trees in it And because they would not allow the King a few they lost all themselves I mentioned before two Lads of this Company whom the King chose out for his own service their Names were Hugh Smart and Henry Man These being taken into his Court obtained great Favour and Honour from him as to be always in his presence and very often he would kindly and familiarly talk with them concerning their Country what it afforded and of their King and his Strength for War Thus they lived in his Favour for some time Till at length Hugh Smart having a desire to hear news concerning England privatly got to the Speech of a Dutch Embassadour Of which the King had notice but would not believe it supposing the information was given him out of Envy to his Favorite but commanded privately to watch him and if he went again to catch him there Which he not being aware of went again and was catched At which the King was very angry For he allows none to come to the speech of Ambassodours much less one that served in his presence and heard and saw all that passed in Court But yet the King dealt very favourably with him For had it been a Chingulay there is nothing more sure than that he should have dyed for it But this English mans Punishment was only to be sent away and kept a Prisoner in the Mountains without Chains and ordered him to be well used there Where indeed he lived better content than in the Kings Palace He took a Wife here and had one Son by her and afterwards dyed by a mischance which was thus As he was gathering a Iack from the Tree by a Crock it fell down upon his side and bruised him so that it killed him Henry Man the other yet remained in Favour and was promoted to be Chief over all the Kings Servants that attended on him in his Palace It happened one Day that he broke one of the Kings China Dishes Which made him so sore afraid that he fled for Sanctuary into a Vehar a Temple where the Chief Priests always dwel and hold their consultations This did not a little displease the King this Act of his supposing him to be of Opinion that those Priests were able to secure him against the Kings displeasure However he shewing Reverence to their Order would not violently fetch him from thence bâ—t sent a kind Message to the English man bidding him not to be afraid for so small a matter as a Dish And it is probable had he not added this fault he might have escaped without Punishment and that he should come and Act in his place as formerly At which Message he came forth and immediatly as the King had given order they took hold of him and bound his Arms above the Elbows behind which is their fashion of binding men In which manner he lay all that Night being bound so hard that his Arms swelled and the Ropes cut throw the Flesh into the Bones The next day the King Commanded a Nobleâ—man to loose the Ropes off his Arms and put Chains on his Legs and keep him in his House and there feed him and cure him Thus he lay some Six Months and was cured but had no Strength in his Armes and then was taken into his Office again and had as much Favour from the King as before Who seemed much to lament him for his folly thus to procure his own ruine Not long after he again offended the King Which as it is reported was thus A Portugueze had been sent for to the City to be employed in the Kings Service to which Service
was his Majesties pleasure to grant us our choice with many Thanks and Obeisance we chose to go with the Dutch Embassadour fearing the Boats insufficiency she having as we were well sensible laid there a great while and if we had chosen the Boat the danger of going that way might have served them for a Put off to us and a Plea to detain us still out of care of us And again had we refused the Embassadours kindness at this time for the future if these things succeeded not with us now we could never have expected any more aid or friendship from that Nation In the next place they told us It was the Kings pleasure to let us understand that all those that were willing to stay and serve his Majesty should have very great rewards as Towns Monies Slaves and places of Honour conferred upon them Which all in general refused Then we were bidden to absent while they returned our answers to the King By and by there came Order to call us in one at a time where the former promises were repeated to every one of us of great Favours Honours and Rewards from the King to those that were willing to stay with him And after each one had given his answer he was sent into a corner in the Court and then another called and so all round one after another they inquiring particularly concerning each mans trade and office Handycrafts-men and Trumpetters being most desired by the King VVe being thus particularly examined again there was not one of us was tempted by the Kings rewards but all in general refused the Kings honourable employment choosing rather to to go our Native Countrey By which we purchased the Kings Displeasure After this they told us we must wait at the Palace gate dayly it being the Kings pleasure that we should make our personal appeaâ—ance before him In this manner we waited many days At length happened a thing a thing which he least suspected viz. a general Rebellion of his People against him VVho assaulted his Palace in the Night but their hearts failed them daring not to enter into the Apartment where his Person was For if they had had courage enough they might have taken him there For he stayed in his Palace until the Morning and then fled into the Mountains and escaped their hands but more thro their cowardliness than his valour This Rebellion I have related at large in the second Part whither he that desires to know more of it may have recourse Only I shall mention here a few things concerning our selves who were gotten into the midst of these Broils and Combustions being all of us now waiting upon the King in the City It was a great and marvellous mercy of Almighty God to bring us safe thro these dangers for it so happened all along that we were in the very midst Before they gave the Assault on the Kings Palace they were consulting to lay hands on us fearing lest we might be prejudicial to their Business in joyning to the help and assistance of the King against them For tho we were but few in comparison yet the Name of White men was somewhat dreadful to them Whereupon at first their Counsels were to cut us off But others among them advised that it would be better to let us alone For that we being ignorant of their Designs as indeed we were and at quiet in our several Lodgings could not be provided to hurt or indanger them But otherwise if they should lay hands on us it would certainly come to the Kings Ears and Allarm him and then all would be frustrated and overthrown This some of their own Party have related to us since These Cousels were not given out of any secret good will ny of them bore to us as I believe but proceeded from the over ruling hand of God who put those things into their hearts for our safety and preservation The People of the City whence the King fled ran away also leaving their Houses and Goods behind them Where we found good Prey and Plunder being permitted to Ransack the Houses of all such as were fled away with the King The Rebels having driven away the King and marching to the City of Cande to the Prince carried us along with them the Chief of their Party telling us that we should now be of good cheer for what they done upon very good advisement they had done the Kings ill Government having given an occasion to it Who went about to destroy both them their Countrey and particularly insisted upon such things as might be most plausible to Strangers such as keeping Embassadours discouraging Trade detaining of Forainers that come upon his Land besides his cruelties towards themselves that were his natural People All which they told us They had been informed was contrary to the Government â—f other Countries and now so soon as their business was settled they assured us They would detain none that were minded to go to their own Countreys Being now at Cande on Christmas-Day of all the days in the year they sent to call us to the Court and gave us some Money and Cloths first to make us the more willing to take Arms which they intended then to deliver unto us and to go with them upon a Design to â—all upon the old King in the place whither he was fled But in the very interim of time God being merciful unto us the Prince with his Aunt fled Which so amazed and discouraged them that the Money and Cloths which they were distributing to us and other Strangers to gain us over to them they scattered about the Court and fled themselves And now followed nothing but cutting one anothers Throats to make themselves appear the more Loyal Subjects and make amends for their former Rebellion We for our parts little thinking in what danger we were fell in to scramble among the rest to get what we could of the Monies that were strewed about being then in great necessity and want For the allowance which formerly we had was in this Disturbance lost and so we remained without it for some three Months the want of which this Money did help to supply Having gotten what we could at the Court we made way to get out of the hurly burly to our Lodgings intending as we were Strangers and Prisoners neither to meddle nor make on the one side or the other being well satisfied if God would but permit us quietly to sit and eat such a Christmas Dinner together as he had prepared for us For our parts we had no other dealings with the Rebels than to desire them to permit us to go to our Native Countrey which Liberty they promised we should not want long But being sent for by them to the Court we durst not but go and they giving us such things as we wanted we could not refuse to take them But the day being turned put us into great fear doubting how
to look after my House and Goats We went down at the Hill Bocawl where there was now no Watch and but seldom any From thence down to the Town of Bonder Cooswat where my Father dyed and by the Town of Nicavar which is the last Town belonging to Hotcurly in that Road. From thence forward the Towns stand thin For it was sixteen miles to the next Town called Parroah which lay in the Country of Neure Cawlava and all the way thro a Wilderness called Parroah Mocolane full of wild Elephants Tigres and Bears Now we set our design for Anarodgburro which is the lowest place inhabited belonging to the King of Cande where there is a Watch alwayes kept and nearer than twelve or fourteen miles of this Town as yet we never had been When we came into the midst of this Countrey we heard that the Governor thereof had sent Officers from the Court to dispatch away the Kings Revenues and Duties to the City and that they were now come into the Country Which put us into no small fear lest if they saw us they should send us back again Wherefore we edged away into the Westernmost Parts of Ecpoulpot being a remote part of that Countrey wherein we now were And there we sate to knitting until we heard they were gone But this caused us to overshoot our time the Moon spending so fast But as soon as we heard they were departed out of the Countrey we went onwards of our Iourney having kept most of our Ware for a pretence to have an occasion to go further And having bought a good parcel of Cotton Tarn to knit Caps withal the rest of our Ware we gave out was to buy dryed flesh with which only in those lower Parts is to be sold. Our Way now lay necessarily thro the chief Governors Yard at Colâ—iwilla Who dwells there purposely to see and examine all that go and come This greatly distressed us First because he was a stranger to us and one whom we had never seen And secondly because there was no other way to escape him and plain reason would tell him that we being prisoners were without our bounds Whereupon we concluded that our best way would be to go boldly and resolutely to his house and not to seem daunted in the least or to look as if we diâ—â— distrust him to disallow of our Iourney but to shew such a behaviour as if we had authority to travail where we would So we went forward and were forced to enquire and ask the way to his house having never been so far this way before I brought from home with me Knives with fine carved handles and a red Tunis Cap purposely to sell or give him if occasion required knowing before that we must pass by him And all along as we went that we might be the less suspected we sold Caps and other Ware to be paid for at our return homewards There were many cross Paths to and fro to his house yet by Gods Providence we happened in the right Road. And having reached his house according to the Countrey manner we went and sate down in the open house which kind of Houses are built on purpose for the reception of Strangers Whither not long after the Great Man himself came and sate down by us To whom we presented a small parcel of Tobacco and some Betel And before he asked us the cause of our coming we shewed him the Ware we brought for him and the Cotton Yarn which we had trucked about the Country telling him withall how the case stood with us viz. That we had a Charge greater than the Kings allowance would maintain and that because dryed Flesh was the chief Commodity of that Part we told him That missing of the Lading which we used to carry back we were glad to come thither to see if we could make it up with dryed Flesh. And therefore if he would please to supply us either for such Ware as we had brought or else for our Money it would be a great favour the which would oblige us for the future to bring him any necessaries that he should name unto us when we should come again unto those Parts as we used to do very often and that we could furnish him having dealings and being acquainted with the best Artificers in Cande At which he replyed That he was sorry we were come at such a dry time wherein they could not catch Deer but if some Rain fell he would soon dispatch us with our Ladings of Flesh. But however he bade us go about the Towns and see whether there might be any or no tho he thought there was none This answer of his pleased us wondrous well both because by this we saw he suspected us not and because he told us there was no dryed Flesh to be got For it was one of our greatest fears that we should get our Lading too soon for then we could not have had an excuse to go further And as yet we could not possibly fly having still six miles further to the Northward to go before we could attempt it that is to Anarodgburro From Anarodgburro it is two dayes Iourney further thro a desolate Wilderness before there is any more Inhabitants And these Inhabitants are neither under this King nor the Dutch but are Malabars and are under a Prince of their own This People we were sorely afraid of lest they might seize us and send us back there being a correspondence between this Prince and the King of Cande wherefore it was our endeavour by all means to shun them lest according to the old Proverb We might leap out of the Frying pan into the Fire But we must take care of that as well as we could when we came among them for as yet our care was to get to Anarodgburro Where altho it was our desire to get yet we would not seem to be too hasty lest it might occasion suspition but lay where we were two or three dayes and one stay'd at the Governors House a knitting whilst the other went about among the Towns to see for Flesh. The Ponds in the Country being now dry there was Fish every where in abundance which they dry like red Herrings over a fire They offered to sell us store of them but they we told them would not turn to so good profit as Flesh. The which we said we would have tho we stayed ten dayes longer for it For here we could live as cheap and earn as much as if we were at home by our knitting So we seemed to them as if we were not in any hast In the mean time happened an Accident which put us to a great fright For the King having newly clapped up several Persons of Quality whereof my old Neighbour Ova Motteral that sent for me to Court was one sent down Souldiers to this High Sheriff or Governor at whose house we now were to give him order to set a
Land was very successful against this present King He run quite thro the Island unto the Royal City it self which he set on Fire with the Temples therein Insomuch that the King sent a Message to him signifying that he was willing to become his Tributary But he proudly sent him word back again That that would not serve his turn He should not only be Tributary but Slave to his Master the King of Portugal This the King of Cande could not brook being of an high Stomach and said He would fight â—o the last drop of Blood rather than stoop to that There were at this time many Commanders in the Generals Army who were natural Chingulays with these the King dealt secretly assuring them that if they would turn on his side he would gratifie them with very ample Rewards The King's Promises took effect and they all revolted from the General The King now daring not to trust the Revolted to make tryal of their Truth and Fidelity put them in the forefront of his Battel and commanded them to give the first Onset the King at that time might have Twenty or Thirty thousand Men in the Field Who taking their opportunity set upon the Portugueze Army and gave them such a total overthrow that as they report in that Countrey not one of them escaped The General seeing this Defeat and himself like to be taken called his Black Boy to give him water to drink and snatching the Knife that stuck by his Boy 's side stabbed himself with it Another General after him was Lewis Tisséra He swore he would make the King eat Coracan Tallipa that is a kind of hasty Pudding made of Water and the Coracan Flower which is reckoned the worst fare of that Island The King afterwards took this Lewis Tisséra and put him in Chains in the Common Goal and made him eat of the same fare And there is a Ballad of this Man and this passage Sung much among the common People there to this day Their next General was Simon Caree a Natural Chingulays but Baptized He is said to be a great Commander When he had got any Victory over the Chingulays he did exercise great Cruelty He would make the Women beat their own Children in their Mortars wherein they used to beat their Corn. Gaspar Figari had a Portugueze Father and Chingulays Mother He was the last General they had in this Countrey And a brave Soldier but degenerated not from his Predecessors in Cruelty He would hang up the People by the heels and split them down the middle He had his Axe wrapped in a white Cloth which he carried with him into the Field to execute those he suspected to be false to him or that ran away Smaller Malefactors he was merciful to cutting off only their right hands Several whom he hath so served are yet living whom I have seen This Gaspar came up one day to fight against the King and the King resolved to fight him The General fixed his Camp at Motaupul in Hotteracourly And in order to the King 's coming down to meet the Portugueze Preparation was made for him at a place called Cota coppul which might be Ten or Twelve miles distant from the Portugueze Army Gaspar knew of the place by some Spies but of the time of the Kings coming he was informed that it was a day sooner than really it happened According to this information he resolved privatly to march thither and come upon him in the night unawares And because he knew the King was a Polititian and would have his Spies abroad to watch the Generals motion the General sent for all the Drummers and Pipers to Play and Dance in his Camp that thereby the Kings Spies might not suspect that he was upon the March but merry and secure in his Camp In the mean time having set his People all to their Dancing and Drumming he left a small party there to secure the Baggage and away he goes in the night with his Army and arrives to Catta coppul intending to fall upon the King But when he came thither he found the King was not yet come but into the Kings Tents he went and sits him down in the seat appointed for the Kâ—ng Here he heard where the King was with his Camp which being not far off he marched thither in the morning and fell upon him and gave him one of the greatest Routs that ever he had The King himself made a narrow escape for had it not been for a Dutch Company which the Dutch had sent a little before for his Guard who aâ—ter his own Army fled turned head and stopped the Portugueze â—or a while he had been seized The Portugueze General was so near the King that he called after him Houre that is Brother stay I would speak with you but the King being got a top of the Hills was safe And so Gaspar retyred to his Quarters This Gallant expert Commander that had so often vanquished the Chingulays could not cope with another Europaean Nation For when the Hollanders came to beseige Columbo he was sent against them with his Army They told him before he went that now he must look to himself for he was not now to Fight against Chingulays but against Soldiers that would look him in the Face But he made nothing of them and said he would serve them as he had served the Chingulays The Hollanders met him and they fought but had before contrived a Stratagem which he was not aware of they had placed some Field-pieces in the Rear of their Army And after a small skirmish they retreated as if they had been worsted which was only to draw the Portugueze nearer upon their Guns Which when they had brought them in shot of they opened on a suddain to the right and left and fired upon them and so routed them and drove them into Columbo This Gaspar was in the City when it was taken and himself taken Prisoner Who was afterwards sent to Goa where he died And so much of the Portugueze The Dutch succeeded the Portugueze The first occasion of whose coming into this Land was that the present King being wearied and overmatched with the Portugueze sent for them into his aid long ago from Batavia And they did him good service but they feathered their own nests by the means and are now possessed of all the Sea-Coasts and considerable Territories thereunto adjoyning The King of the Countrey keeps up an irreconcileable War against them The occasion of which is said to be this Upon the beseiging of Columbo which was about the year MDCLV it was concluded upon between the King and the Dutch that their Enemies the Portugueze being expelled thence the City was to be delivered up by the Dutch into the Kings hands Whereupon the King himself in person with all his Power went down to this War to assist and joyn with the Hollanders without whose help as it is
boldly replied That as soon as his Mother took away her Milk from him she supplied it with Wine and ever since saith he I have used my self to it With this answer the King seemed to be pleased And indeed the rest of the white Men are generally of the same temper insomuch that the Chingulays have a saying That Wine is as natural to white Men as Milk to Children All differences of Ranks and Qualities are disregarded among those Chingulay People that are under the Dutch Neither do the Dutch make any distinction between the Hondrews and the low and Inferior Casts of Men and permit them to go in the same Habit and sit upon Stools as well as the best Hondrews and the lower Ranks may eat and intermarry with the higher without any Punishment or any Cognizance taken of it Which is a matter that the Chingulays in Cand ' Vda are much offended with the Dutch for and makes them think that they themselves are sprung from some mean Rank and Extract And this prejudiceth this People against them that they have not such an Esteem for them For to a Chingulay his Rank and Honour is as dear as his life And thus much of the Dutch CHAP. XIV Concerning the French With some Enquiries what should make the King detain white Men as he does And how the Christian Religion is maintained among the Christians there ABout the year MDCLXXII or LXXIII there came Fourteen Sail of great Ships from the King of France to settle a Trade here Monsieur De la Hay Admiral put in with this Fleet into the Port of Cottiar From whence he sent up Three men by way of Embassy to the King of Cande Whom he entertained very Nobly and gave every one of them a Chain of Gold about their Necks and a Sword all inlay'd with Silver and a Gun And afterwards sent one of them down to the Admiral with his Answer Which encouraged him to send up others that is an Ambassador and six more Who were to reside there till the return of the Fleet back again being about to Sail to the Coast. To the Fleet the King sent all manner of Provision as much as his Ability could afford and not only permitted but assisted them to build a Fort in the Bay Which they manned partly with their own People and partly with Chingulays whom the King sent and lent the French But the Admiral finding that the King's Provisions and what else could be bought in the Island would not suffice for so great a Fleet was forced to depart for the Coast of Coromandel promising the King by the Ambassador afore-mentioned speedily to return again So leaving some of his Men with the King's Supplies to keep the Fort till his return he weighed Anchor and set sail But never came back again Some reported they were destroyed by a Storm others by the Dutch The Admiral had sent up to the King great Presents but he would not presently receive them that it might not seem as if he wanted any thing or were greedy of things brought him but since the French returned not according to their promise he scorned ever after to receive them At first he neglected the Present out of State and ever since out of Anger and Indignation This French Fort at Cotiar was a little after easily taken by the Dutch But to return to the Embassador and his Retinue He rode up from Cotiar on Horseback which was very Grand in that Countrey And being with his Company gotten somewhat short of the City was appointed there to stay until an House should be prepared in the City for their Entertainment When it was signified to him that their House was ready for their Reception they were conducted forward by certain Noblemen sent by the King carrying with them a Present for his Majesty Tâ—â— Ambassador came riding on Horse-back into the City Which the Noblemen observing dissuaded him from and advised him to walk on foot telling him It was not allowable nor the Custom But he regarding them not rode by the Palace Gate It offended the King but he took not much notice of it for the present The Ambassador alighted at his Lodgings Where he and his Companions were nobly Entertained Provisions sent them ready Dresâ—ed out of the King's Palace three times a day great Plenty they had of all things the Countrey afforded After some time the King sent to him to come to his Audience In great State he was Conducted to the Court accompanied with several of the Nobles that were sent to him Coming thus to the Court in the Night as it is the King 's usual manner at that Season to send for foreign Ministers and give them Audience he waited there some small time about two hours or less the King not yet admitting him Which he took in such great disdain and for such an affront that he was made to stay at all much more so long that he would tarry no longer but went towards his Lodging Some about the Court observing this would have stopped him by Elephants that stood in the Court turning them before the Gate thro which he was to pass But he would not so be stopped but laid his hand upon his Sword as if he meant to make his way by the Elephants the People seeing his resolution called away the Elephants and let him pass As soon as the King heard of it he was highly displeased insomuch that he commanded some of his Officers that they should go and beat them and clap them in Chains which was immediately done to all excepting the two Gentlemen that were first sent up by the Admiral for these were not touched the King reckoning they did not belong unto this Ambassador neither were they now in his Company excepting that one of them in the Combustion got a few Blows They were likewise disarmed and so have continued ever since Upon this the Gentlemen Attendants upon the Embassador made their Complaints to the Captain of their Guards excusing themselves and laying all the blame upon their Ambassador urging That they were his Attendants and a Soldier must obey his Commander and go where he appoints him Which sayings being told the King he approved thereof and commanded them out of Chains the Ambassador still remaining in them and so continued for six Months After which he was released of his Chains by means of the Intreaties his own men made to the great Men in his behalf The rest of the French men seeing how the Embassador's imprudent carriage had brought them to this misery refused any longer to dwell with him And each of them by the King's Permission dwells by himself in the City being maintained at the King's charge Three of these whose Names were Monsieur Du Plessy Son to a Gentleman of note in France and Iean Bloom the third whose Name I cannot tell but was the Ambassador's Boy the King appointed to look to his best Horse
Catechism The Compleat Clerk History of the late Wars of New England Dr. Outram de Sacrificiis Bishop Taylor 's Disswasive from Popery Dr. Gibb's Sermons Parkeri Disputationes de Deo History of the future State of Europe Dr. Fowler 's Defence of the Design of Christianity against Iohn Bunynan Dr. Sherlock's Visitation-Sermon at Warrington Dr. West's Assize-Serm at Dorchester 1671. Lord Hollis's Relation of the Unjust Accusation of certain French Gentlemen charged with a Robbery 1671. The Magistrates Authority asserted in a Sermon by Iames Paston OCTAVO ELborow's Rationale upon the English Service-Book Dr. Burnet's Vindication of the Ordination of the Church of England Bishop Wilkin's Natural Religion Hard-castle's Christ. Geography and Arithmetick Dr. Ashton's Apology for the Honours and Revenues of the Clergy Lord Hollis's Vindication of the Iudicature of the House of Peers in the case of Skinner Iurisdiction of the House of Peers in case of Appeals Iurisdiction of the House of Peers in caâ—e of Impositions Letter about the Bishops Vote in Capital Cases Dr. Grew's Idea of Phytological History continued on Roots The Spaniards Conspiracy against the State of Venice Several Tracts of Mr. Hales of Eaton of the Sin against the Holy Ghost c. Bishop Sanderson's Life Drâ— Tillâ—â—son's Rulâ— of â—â—ith Dr. Simpson's Chymical Anatomy or â—he York-shire Spaws with a Discourse of the Original of Hot Springs and other Fountains His Hydrological Essays with an Account of the Allum-works at Whitby and some Observations about the Iaundies Dr. Cox's Discourse of the Interest of the Patient in reference to Physick and Physicians Organon Salutis Or an Instrument to cleanse the Stomach with divers New Experiments of Tobacco and Coffee with a Preface of Sir H. Blunt Dr. Cave's Primitive Christianity in three Parts Allen's Discourse of two Covenants 1672. Ignatius Fuller's Sermons of Peace and Holiness Buckler of State and Iustice against France's Design of Universal Monarchy A free Conference touching the Present State of England at home and abroad in order to the Designs of France Bishop Taylor of Confirmation Mystery of Iesuitism third and fourth Parts Dr. Salmon's Dispensatory Dr. Samway's Unreasonableness of the Romanists Record of Urines Dr. Ashton's Cases of Scandal and Persecuâ—ion DUODECIMO HOdder's Arithmetick Grotius de Veritate Religionis Christianae Bishop Hacket's Christian Consolations VICESIMO QUARTO VAlentine's Devotions Guide to Heaven Books lately printed GVillim's Display of Herauldry with large Additions Dr. Burnet's History of the Reformation of the Church of England Folio in two Volumes Dr. Burlace's History of the Irish Rebellion folio Herodoti Historiâ— Gr◠〈◊〉 Fol. Cole's Latin and English Dictionary with large Additions William's Sermon before the Lord Mayor Octob. 12. 1679. Impartial Consideration of the Speeches of the Five Iesuits Executed for Treason Fol. Dr. Burnet's Relation of the Massacre of the Protestants in France Quarto His Letter written upon the Discovery of the late Plot Quarto Decree made at Rome March 2. 1679. condemning some Opinions of the Iesuits and other Casuists Quarto Tryals of the Regicides Octavo Mr. Iames Brome's Two Fast Sermons Dr. Iane's Fast Sermon before the House of Commons April 11. 1679. Mr. Iohn Iames's Visitation Sermon April 9. 1671. Quarto Mr. Iohn Cave's Fast Sermon on Ian. 30. 1679. quarto His Asâ—ize Sermon at Leicester Iuly 31. 1679. quarto His Gospel preached to the Romans Octavo Certain Genuine Remains of the Lord Bâ—con in Arguments Civil Moral Natural c. with a large Account of all his Works by Dr. Tho. Tenison Octavo Dr. Puller's Discourse of the Moderation of the Church of England Octavo Dr. Saywel's Original of all the Plots in Christendom with the Danger and Remedy of Schism Sir Iohn Munson Baronet of Supreme Power and Common Right Octavo Dr. Edw. Bagshaw's Discourses upon Select Texts Octavo Mr. Rushworth's Historical Collections The Second Part. Fol. His large and exact Account of the Trial of the E. of Straf with all the Circumstances preliminary to concomitant with and subsequent upon the same to his Death Fol. Remarques relating to the state of the Church of the three first Centuries By Ab. Seller Octavo Speculum Baxterianum or Baxter against Baxter Quarto The Countrey-man's Physician For the use of such as live far from Cities or Market-Towns Octavo 〈…〉 Sermon upon the â—ast for the Fire 1680. quarto Conversion and Persecutions of Eve Cohan a Person of Quality of the Iewish Religion lately Baptized a Christian. quarto His Life and Death of the late Earl of Rochester Octavo His Fast Sermon before the Commons Decemb. 22â— 1680. His Sermon on the 30th of Ian. 168â— New England Psalms Twelves An Apology for a Treatise of Humane Reason Written by Mr. Clifford Esq Twelves The Laws of this Realm concerning Iesuits Seminary Priests c. explained by divers Iudgments and Resolutions of the Iudges with other Observations thereupon by William Cawley Esq Fol. Bishop Sanderson's Sermons with his Life Fol. Fowlis his History of Romish Conspiracies Treasons and Usurpations Fol. Markham's Perfect Horseman Octavo Dr. Parker's Demonstration of the Divine Authority of the Law of Nature and the Christian Religion quarto Dr. Sherlock's practical discourse of Religious Assemblies Octavo A Defence of Dr. Stillingfleet's Unreasonableness of Separation Octavo Dr. Outram's Sermons Octavo FINIS A general division of the Inland Countrey Each County divided by Woods The Country Hilly but enriched with Rivers The great River Mavelagonga described Woody Where most populous and healthful The nature of the Valleys The great Hill Adams Peak described The natural Strength of this Kingdom The difference of the Seasons in this Country What Parts have most Rain The most Eminent Cities are Five Candy Nellemby Allout-neur The Country of Bintan described Badoula The Province of Ouvah Digligy the place of the Kings constant Residence Gauluda Many Ruins of Cities Anurodgburro The nature of the Northern Parts The Port of Portaloon It affords Salt Leawava affords Salt in abundance Described Their Towns how Built Many lye in Ruins and forsaken and upon what occasion The Products and Commodities of the Countrey Corn of divers sorts Rice Grows in Water Their Ingenuity in watering their Corn Lands Why they do not alwayes sow the best kind of Rice They sow at different times but reap together Their Artificial Pools Aligators harbor in them They sow Corn on the Mud. A sort of Rice that grows without Water The Seasons of Seed-time and Harvest A particular description of their Husbandry Their Ploughâ— The convenience of these Ploughs Their first Ploughing Their Banks and use of them Their second Ploughing How they prepare their Seed-Corn And their Land after it is Ploughed Their manner of sowing Their manner of Reaping They tread out their Corn with Cattel The Ceremonies they use when the Corn is to be trodden How they unhusk their Rice Other sorts of Corn among them Coracan Tanna Moung Omb. Great variety of Fruits and delicious The best Fruits where-ever they grow reserved
for the King Betel-Nuts The Trees The Fruit. The Leaves The Skins and their use The VVood. The profit the Fruit yields Iacks Iombo Other Fruits found in the Woods Fruits common with other parts of India The Tallipot the rare Uses of the Leaf The pith good to eat The Kettule yields a delicious juice The Skin bears strings as strong as wyer The VVood its Nature and Life The Cinnamon-Tree The Bark The VVood. The Leaf The Fruit. The Orula the Fruit good for Physick and Dying This water will brighten rusty Iron and serve instead of Ink. The Dounekaia The Capita Rattans It s Fruit. Canes The Betel Tree The Bo-gauhah or God-Tree Roots for Food The manner of their growing Boyling Herbs Fruits for sawce Europaean Herbs and Plants among them Herbs for Medicine Their Flowers A Flower that serves instead of a Dial. What Beasts the Country produceth Deer no bigger than Hares Other Creatures rare in their kind The way how a Wild Deer was catched Of their Elephants The way of catching Elephants The understanding of Elephants Their Nature The damage they do Their Diseases The Sport they make Ants of divers sorts How these Coddia's come to sting so terribly These Ants a very mischievous sort The curious Buildings of the Vaeos The manner of their death Bees of several kinds Bees thaâ— build on Trees like Birds The people eat the Bees as well as their honey Leaches that ly in the grass and creep on Travellers Legs The remedies they use against them Apes and Monkeys of divers kinds How they catch wild Beasts How they take the Wild Boar. Their Birds Such as will be taught to speak Such as are beautiful foâ— colour A strange Bird. Water-Fowls resembling Ducks and Swans Peacocks The King keeps Fowl Their Fish How they catch them in Ponds Fish kept and fed for the Kings pleasure Serpents The Pimberah of a prodigious bigness The Polongâ— The Noya The Fable of the Noya and Polonga The Carowala Gerende Hickanella A great Spider Kobbera-guion a Creature like an Allegator Tolla-guion The People eat Ratâ— Precious Stones Minerals and other Commodities The People discouâ—aged from Industry by the Tyranny they are under The Government of this Island The King 's Lincage His Person Meen and Habit. His Queenâ— and Children His Palace Situation and Description of it Strong Guards about his Court. Next his own Person Negro's watch Spies sent out a Nights His attendants Handsom women belong to his Kitchinâ— His Women and the Priviledg of the Towns where they live His State when he walks in his Palace or goes abroad His reception of â—â—bassadors His delight 〈◊〉 them Sparing iâ— his Dyet After what manner he Eats Chast himself and requires his Attendants uo bâ— so He â—ommiâ—â—ed Iuâ—â—st but such aâ— waâ— allowable His Pride How the people Address to the King They give him divine worship Pleased with high â—uleâ— An insâ—anâ—â— oâ—â—wo oâ—â—he King'â— haughâ—y 〈…〉 He slighâ—â— the 〈◊〉 of one of hiâ—â—eâ—◠〈◊〉 He 〈…〉 hi◠〈◊〉 â—he Dutâ—h seâ—ve â—heâ—◠〈◊〉 upon hiâ— Pâ—â—de by â—laâ—â—â—â—ing him The people givâ— way â—o the King 's â—â—â—l â—loths Hiâ— natural 〈◊〉 and deceâ—â—â—ul 〈◊〉 His wise saying concerning Runnawayes Naturally cruel The Dogs follow Prisoners to execution The Kings Prisoners their Misery He punishes whole generations for theâ— sake of one The sad condition of young Gentlemen that wait on his Person His Pleasure Houses His Pastimes abroad His Diversion at hâ—mâ— Hâ—s Religion How he stands affected to the Christian Religion His Government Tyrannical His Policy He Farms out his Countrey for Service His Policy to secure himself from Assassination or Rebellion Another point of â—iâ— Policy Another which is to find his People work to do A vast work undertaken and finished by the King The turning this water did great injury to the People But he little regards his Peoples good The King by craft at once both pleased and punishâ—d his People In what labours he employs his People He â—oyâ—onâ— his only Son The extraordinary lamentation at the death of his Sister His câ—afâ— and cruâ—lty shâ—wn at once The King's 〈◊〉 brought three 〈◊〉 in the year The first 〈◊〉 â—ompâ—â—nded with a great Festival How the Nobles being their 〈◊〉 of Dâ—â—â—â—s Inferior Persons present their New-year Gifts What Taxes and Rents the People pay The accidental Incomes of the Crown The Profits that accrue to the King from Corn-Lands Custom of goods imported formerly paâ—d His Treasuriesâ— He has many Elephants Great Treasure thrown into the River formerly The Treasure he most valueth Two greatest Officers in the Land The next great Officers None can put to death but the King These Dissauva's are duâ—ants bene phâ—â—â—â—â— Whom the King makes Dissauva's And their Proâ—â—â—â— and Honours â—he Liannah The Undia The Monnannah Some Towns â—xempt from the Piâ—â—uva's Officers Other Officers 〈◊〉 These places obtained by Bâ—â—â—es But remain only during pleasure Counâ—rey-Courts They may appeal Appeals to the King How thâ—sâ— great Offiâ—ers â—rave upon publick Business Their Titles and Signs of 〈◊〉 The misery that succeeds their Honour The foolish ambition of the Men and Women of this Countrey The King 's Military Aâ—fairs The natural strength of his Countrey Watches and Thorn-gates None to pass from the Kings City without Pasports Their Soldiery All Men of Arms wait at Court The Soldiers have Lands allotted them instead of Pay To prevent the Soldiers from Plotringâ— The manner of sending them out oâ— Expeditionâ— The King requireâ— all the Captains singly to send him intelligence of their Affairs When the War is finished they may not return without order The Condition of the common Soldiers He conceals his purpose when he sends out his Army Great exploits done and but little Courage They work chiefly by Stratagems They understand the manner of Christian Armies They seldom hazzard a battel If they prove unsuccessful how he punishes them A Comet ushered in the Rebellion The intent of the Conspirators How the Rebellion began The King Flyes They pursue him faintly They go to the Prince and Proclaim him King The carriage of the Prince Upon the Princes Flight the Rebells scatter and run A great man declares for the King For eight or ten days nothing but killing one another to approve themselves good Subjects The King poysons his Son to prevent a Rebellion hereafter His ingratitude Another Comet but without any bad effects following it The several Inhabitants of this Island The Original of Chinguluys Wild-men By an acknowledgment to the King How they bespeak Arrows to be made them They violently took away Carriers goods Hourly Vadahs trade with the people One made to serve the King Their habit and Religion A Skirmish about their bounds Curious in their Arrows How they preserve their flesh How they take Elephants The dowrâ—eâ— they give Their disposition A description of a Chingulay Their disposition The Inhabitants of the Mountains differ from those of the Low-lands Their good opinion of Virtue though they practice it not
The General 's Craft to get the Ship as well as the Men. The Captain 's Order to them on board the ship The Captain 's second Message to his Ship The Ships Company refuse to bring up the Ship The Captain orders the ship to depart The Lading of Cloth remained untouched The probable reason of our Surprize The number of those that were left on the Island The Dissauva departs They intend to attempt an Escape but are prevented Their condition commiserated by the People They are distributed into divers Town An Order comes from the King to bring them up into the Countrey How they were Treated on the way in the Woods And in the Towns among the Inhabitants They are brought near Cande and there seperated The Captain and his Son and two more quartered together Parted How they â—ared The Captain and his Son placed in Cooâ—-wat Moneys scarce with them But they had good Provisions without it The Town where they were Sickly How they passed their time They both fall Sick Deep Grief seizes the Captain Their Sickness continues Their Boy 's disobedience adds to their trouble His excessive sorrow His Discourse and charge to his Son before his Death His Death And Burial The Place where he lyes Upon the Captain's death a Message sent his Son from Court His chief employment is Reading He loses his Ague How he meâ— with an English Bible in that Countrey Struck into a great Passion at the sight of the Book He casts with himself how to get iâ— Where the rest of the English were bestowed Kept from one another a good while but after permitted to see each other No manner of work laid upon them They begin to pluck up their heartâ— What course they took for Cloths Their faâ—e What Employment they afterwards followed How the English Domineered What Satisfaction one of them received from a Potter A scuffle between the English and Natives The Author after a year sees his Countreymen Their Conference and Entertainment He consults with his Countreymen for a future livelyhood The difficulty he met with of having raw Rice He reasons with the People about his allowance He builds him an House He follows business and thrives Some attempted râ—â—ning away but were catched Little incouragement for those that bring back Runnaways The Persia Merchant's men Captives before us Plundred by the Natives Brought up to the Kingâ— They hoped to obtain Liberty but were mistaken A ridiculous action of thesâ— Men. They had â— mind to Beef and how they got it A Passage of the Courage of the Men. Two of his Company taken into Court The one out of Favour his â—â—d The other out of Favour and lamentable Death The King sends special order concerning their good usage Mr. Vassals prudence upon the receit of Letters The King bids him read his Letters The King pleased to hear of England Victory over Holland Private discourse between the King and Vassal Means made to the King for our Liberty Upon which they all met at the City Word sent them from the Court that they had their Liberty All in general refuse the King's serviceâ— Commanded still to wait at the Palace During which a Rebellion breaks out They are in the midst of it and in great danger The Rebels take the English with them They design to ingage the English with them They resolve neither to meddle or make The day being turned they fear the King But he justifies them They are driven to beg in the High-ways Sent into new quarters there and their Pensions settled again Fall to Trading and have more freedom The Author at his new quarters buildâ— him another House The People counsel him to Marry Which he seemed to listen to Here he lived two years A Fort built near him but afterward taken by the King He and three more removed thence Settled in a dismal place A comâ—ortable Message from the King concerning us Placed there to punish the People for â— Crime Weary of this place By a piece of Craft he gets down to his old Quarters Began the world anew the third time Is incouraged to buy a piece of Land The Situation and condition of it Buys it Builds an House on it Leaves Laggendenny Setled at his new purchase with three more living with him Their freedom and Trade His Family reduced to two Confer together about the lawfulness of Marrying with the Native Women He resolves upon a single life What employments they follow The respect and credit they live in A Chingulay punished for beating an English man An English man preferred at Courâ— The English serve the King in hiâ— Waâ—â— Who now live miserably He returns to speak of himâ—elâ— Plots and Consults about an Escape A description of his House He takes up a new Trade and Thrives on it His Allowance paid him out of the King's Store-houses He voluntarily forgoes his pension Summoned before the King He â—s informed that he is to be preferâ—ed at Court But resolves to refuse it The answer he makes to the Great man He is sent to another great Officer He stays in the City expecting his Doom He goes home but is sent for again Having escaped the Court service falls to his former course of life Their pedling forwarded their escape The most probable course to take was Northwards They get three days journey Northward They attempted often to fly this way but still hindred In those parts is bad Water but they had an Antidote against it They still improve in the knowledg of their Way Meets with his black Boy in these parts who was to guide him to the Dutch But disapointed An extraordinary drought for three or four years together Their last and successful attempt The way they went They design for Anarodgburâ—o They turn out of the way to avoid the King's Officers Forced to pass thro the Chief Governours yard The Method they used to prevent his suspition of them Their danger by reason of the ways they were to pass They still remain at the Governours to prevent suspition An accident that now created them great fear But get fairly rid of it They get away fairly from the Governour In their way they meet with a River which they found for their purpose They come safely to Anarodgburro This Place described The People stand amazed at them They are examined by the Governour of the Place Provide things necessary for their flight They find it not safe to proceed further this way Resolve to go back to the River they lately passed They depart back again towards the River But first take their leave of the Governor here They begin their flight They come to the River along which they resolved to go Which they travel along by till it was dark Now they fit themselves for their Iourney Meeting with an Elephant they took up for that night They fall in among Townâ— before they are aware Their fright leâ—t they should be seenâ— Hid themselves in a hollow Trâ—â— They
this way Having said thus much concerning the Cities and other Eminent places of this Kingdom I will now add a little concerning their Towns The best are those that do belong to their Idols wherein stand their Dewals or Temples They do not care to make Streets by building their Houses together in rowes but each man lives by himself in his own Plantation having an hedg it may be and a ditch round about him to keep out Cattel Their Towns are always placed some distance from the High-ways for they care not that their Towns should be a thorough-fair for all people but onely for those that have business with them They are not very big in some may be Forty in some Fifty houses and in some above an Hundred and in some again not above eight or ten And as I said before of their Cities so I must of their Towns That there are many of them here and there lie desolate occasioned by their voluntary forsaking them which they often do in case many of them fall sick and two or three die soon after one another For this they conclude to happen from the hand of the Devil Whereupon they all leave their Town and go to another thinking thereby to avoid him Thus relinquishing both their Houses and Lands too Yet afterwards when they think the Devil hath departed the place some will sometimes come back and re-assume their Lands again CHAP. III. Of their Corn with their manner of Husbandry HAving discoursed hitherto of the Countrey method will require that I proceed now to the Products of it Viz. their Fruits Plants Beasts Birds and other Creatures Minerals Commodities c. whereof I must declare once for all That I do not pretend to write an Exact and Perfect Treatise my time and leisure not permitting me so to do but only to give a Relation of some of the chief of these things and as it were a tast of them according as they that occur to my Memory while I am writing I shall first begin with their Corn as being the Staff of their Countrey They have divers sorts of Corn tho all different from ours And here I shall first speak of their Rice the Choice and Flower of all their Corn and then concerning the other inferior kinds among them Of Rice they have several sorts and called by several names according to the different times of their ripening However in tast little disagreeing from one another Some will require seven Months before it come to maturity called Mauvi some six Hauteal others will ripen in five Honorowal others in four Henit and others in three Aulfancol The price of all these is one and the same That which is soonest ripe is most savoury to the tast but yieldeth the least increase It may be asked then why any other sort of Rice is sown but that which is longest a Ripening seeing it brings in most Profit In answer to this you must know That all these sorts of Rice do absolutely require Water to grow in all the while they stand so that the Inhabitants take great pains in procuring and saving water for their Grounds and in making Conveyances of Water from their Rivers and Ponds into their Lands which they are very ingenious in also in levelling their Corn Lands which must be as smooth as a Bowling-Green that the Water may cover all over Neither are their steep and Hilly Lands uncapable of being thus overflown with Water For the doing of which they use this Art They level these Hills into narrow Allies some three some eight foot wide one beneath another according to the steepness of the Hills working and digging them in that fashion that they lye smooth and flat like so many Stairs up the Hills one above another The Waters at the top of the Hills falling downwards are let into these Allies and so successively by running out of one into another water all first the higher Lands and then the lower The highest Allies having such a quantity of Water as may suffice to cover them the rest runs over unto the next and that having its proportion unto the next and so by degrees it falls into all these hanging parcels of Ground These Waters last sometimes a longer and sometimes a shorter Season Now the Rice they sow is according as they foresee their stock of Water will last It will sometimes last them two or three or four or five Months more or less the Rice therefore they chuse to cast into the Ground is of that sort that may answer the duration of the Water For all their Crop would be spoilt if the Water should fail them before their Corn grew ripe If they foresee their Water will hold out long then they sow the best and most profitable Rice viz. that which is longest a ripening but if it will not they must be content to sow of the worser sorts that is those that are sooner ripe Again they are forced sometimes to sow this younger Rice for the preventing the damage it might otherwise meet with if it should stand longer For their Fields are all in common which after they have sown they enclose till Harvest But as soon as the Corn first sown becomes ripe when the Owner has reaped it it is lawful for him to break down his Fences and let in his Cattle for grazing which would prove a great mischief to that Corn that required to stand a Month or two longer Therefore if they are constrained to sow later than the rest either through want or sloth or some other Impediment yet they make use of that kind of Rice that will become ripe equal with that first sown And so they all observe one time of reaping to prevent their Corn being trampled down or eaten up by the Cattle Thus they time their Corn to their Harvest some sowing sooner some later but all reaping together unless they be Fields that are enclosed by themselves and peculiar to one Man Where there are no Springs or Rivers to furnish them with Water as it is in the Northern Parts where there are but two or three Springs they supply this defect by saving of rain Water which they do by casting up great Banks in convenient places to stop and contain the Rains that fall and so save it till they have occasion to let it out into their Fields They are made rounding like a C or Half-Moon every Town has one of these Ponds which if they can but get filled with Water they count their Corn is as good as in the Barn It was no small work to the ancient Inhabitants to make all these Banks of which there is a great number being some two some three Fathoms in height and in length some above a Mile some less not all of a size They are now grown over with great Trees and so seem natural Hills When they would use the Water they cut a gap in one end of the Bank
had given me in my Voyage hither Which offer he made me he said That I might better satisfie their Company in Holland concerning the Affairs of Ceilon which they would be very glad to know At this time came two English Merchants hither from Bantam with whom the General was pleased to permit us to go But when we came to Bantam the English Agent very kindly entertained us and being not willing that we should go to the Dutch for Passage since God had brought us to our own Nation ordered our Passage in the good Ship Caesar lying then in the Road bound for England the Land of our Nativity and our long wished for Port. Where by the good Providence of God we arrived safe in the Month of September CHAP. XIII Concerning some other Nations and chiefly Europaeans that now live in this Island Portugueze Dutch HAving said all this concerning the English People it may not be unacceptable to give some account of other Whites who either voluntarily or by constraint Inhabit there And they are besides the English already spoken of Portugueze Dutch and French But before I enter upon Discourse of any of these I shall detain my Readers a little with another Nation inhabiting in this Land I mean the Malâ—bars both because they are Strangers and derive themselves from another Countrey and also because I have had occasion to mention them sometimes in this Book Thâ—se Malabars then are voluntary Inhabitants in this Island and have a Countrey here tho the Limits of it are but small it lyes to the Northward of the King's Coasts betwixt him and the Hollander Corunda Wy River parts it from the King's Territories Thro this Countrey we passed when we made our Escape The Language they speak is peculiar to themselves so that a Chingulays cannot understand them nor they a Chingulays They have a Prince over them called Coilat wannea that is independent either upon the King of Cande on one hand or the Dutch on the other only that he pays an acknowledgment to the Hollanders Who have endeavoured to subdue him by Wars but they cannot yet do it yet they have brought him to be a Tributary to them viz. To pay a certain rate of Elephants per annum The King and this Prince maintain a Friendship and Correspondence together And when the King lately sent an Army against the Hollanders this Prince let them pass thro his Countrey and went himself in Person to direct the King's People when they took one or two Forts from them The People are in great subjection under him they pay him rather greater Taxes than the Chingulays do to their King But he is nothing so cruel He Victualleth his Soldiers during the time they are upon the Guard either about the Palace or abroad in the Wars they are now fed at his Charge whereas 't is contrary in the King's Countrey for the Chingulay Soldiers bear their own Expences He hath a certain rate out of every Land that is sown which is to maintain his Charge The Commodities of this Countrey are Elephants Hony Butter Milk Wax Cows wild Cattel of the three last great abundance As for Corn it is more scarce than in the Chingulays Countrey neither have they any Cotton But they come up into Neure Caulava yearly with great droves of Cattel and lade both Corn and Cotton And to buy these they bring up Cloth made of the same Cotton which they can make better than the Chingulays also they bring Salt and Salt Fish and brass Basons and other Commodities which they get of the Hollander because the King permits not his People to have any manner of Trade with the Hollander so they receive the Dutch Commodities at the second hand We now proceed unto the Europaean Nations And we begin with the Portugueze who deserve the first place being the oldest Standers there The Sea-Coasts round about the Island were formerly under their Power and Government and so held for many years In which time many of the Natives became Christians and learned the Portugueze Tongue Which to this day is much spoken in that Land for even the King himself understands and speaks it excellently well The Portugueze have oâ—ten made Invasions throughout the whole Land even to Cande the Metropolis of the Island Which they have burnt more than once with the Palace and the Temples and so formidable have they been that the King hath been forced to turn Tributary to them paying them three Elephants per Annum However the middle of this Island viz. Cand ' Vda standing upon Mountains and so strongly â—ortified by Nature could never be brought into subjection by them much less by any other but hath always been under the Power of their own Kings There were great and long Wars between the King of Ceilon and the Portugueze and many of the brave Portugal Generals are still in memory among them of whom I shall relate some passages presently Great vexation they gave the King by their irruptions into his Dominions and the Mischiefs they did him tho oftentimes with great loss on their side Great Battels have been lost and won between them with great destruction of Men on both parts But being greatly distresâ—ed at last he sent and called in the Hollander to his aid By whose seasonable assistance together with his own Arms the King totally dispossessed the Portugueze and routed them out of the Land Whose rooms the Dutch now occupy paying themselves for their pains At the Surrender of Columbo which was the last place the Portugueze held the King made Proclamation That all Portugueze which would come unto him should be well entertained Which accordingly many did with their whole Families Wives Children and Servants choosing rather to be under him than the Dutch and divers of them are alive to this day living in Cande Uda and others are born there To all whom he alloweth monthly maintenance yea also and Provisions for their Slaves and Servants which they brought up with them This People are privileged to Travel the Countreys above all other Whites as knowing they will not run away Also when there was a Trade at the Sea Ports they were permitted to go down with Commodities clear â—rom all Customs and Duties Besides these who came voluntarily to live under the King there are others whom he took Prisoners The Portugueze of the best Quality the King took into his Service who are most of them since cut off according to his kind Custom towards his Courtiers The rest of them have allowance from that King and follow Husbandry Trading about the Countrey Stilling Rack keeping Taverns the Women â—ew Womens Wastcoats the Men â—ew Mens Doublets for Sale I shall now mention some of the last Portugueze Generals all within this present King's Reign with some passages concerning them Constantine Sa General of the Portugals Army in Ceilon when the Portugueze had footing in this