to the rest of our Country-men and see how they do They reckoning themselves in for their Lives in order to their future settlement were generally disposed to Marry Concerning which we have had many and sundry disputes among our selves as particularly concerning the lawfulness of matching with Heathens and Idolaters and whether the Chingulays Marriages were any better than living in Whoredome there being no Christian Priests to join them together and it being allowed by their Laws to change their Wives and take others as often as they pleased But these caâ—es we solved for our own advantage after this manner That we were but Flesh and Blood and that it is said It is better to Marry than to burn and that as far as we could see we were cut off from all Marriages any where else even for our Life time and therefore that we must marry with these or with none at all And when the People in Scripture were forbidden to take Wives of Strangers it was then when they might intermarry with their own People and so no necessity lay upon them And that when they could not there are examples in the Old Testament upon Record that they took Wives of the Daughters of the Lands wherein they dwelt These reasons being urged there was none among us that could object ought against them especially if those that were minded to marry Women here did take them for their Wives during their lives as some of them say they do and most of the Women they marry are such as do profess themselves to be Christians As for mine own part however lawful these Marriages might be yet I judged it far more convenient for me to abstain and that it more redounded to my good having always a reviving hope in me that my God had not forsaken me but according to his gracious promise to the Iews in the xxx Chapter of Deuteronomy and the beginning would turn my Captivity and bring me into the Land of my Fathers These and such like meditations together with my Prayers to God kept me from that unequal Yoke of Unbeleivers which several of my Countrey men and fellow Prisoners put themselves under By this time our People having plyed their Business hard had almost knit themselves out of work and now Caps were become a very dead Commodity which was the chief stay they had heretofore to trust to So that now most of them betook themselves to other employments some to Husbandry Plowing Ground and sowing Rice and keeping Cattle others stilled Rack to sell others went about the Countrey a Trading For that which one part of the Land affords is a good Commodity to carry to another that wants it And thus with the help of a little allowance they make a shift to to subsist Most of their Wives spin Cotton yarn which is a great help to them for cloathing and at spare times also knit After this manner by the blessing of God our Nation hath lived and still doth in as good fashion as any other People or Nation whatsoever that are Strangers here or as any of the Natives themselves only the Grandees and Courtiers excepted This I speak to the Praise and Glory of our God who loves the Stranger in giving him Food and Raiment and that hath been pleased to give us Favour and a good Repute in the sight of our Enemies We cannot complain for want of justice in any wrongs we have sustained by the People or that our cause hath been discountenanced but rather we have been favoured above the Natives themselves One of our men happened to be beaten by his Neighbour At which we were all very much concerned taking it as a reproach to our Nation and fearing it might embolden others to do the like by the rest of us Therefore with joint consent we all concluded to go to the Court to complain and to desire satisfaction from the Adigar Which we did Upon this the man who had beat the English man was summoned in to appear before him Who seeing so many of us there and fearing the cause will go very hard with him to make the Iudg his friend gave him a bribe He having received it would have shifted off the Punishment of the Malefactor But we day after day followed him from house to Court and from place to place where-ever he went demanding Iustice and Satisfaction for the wrong we received shewing the black and blew blows upon the English mans shoulders to all the rest of the Noble men at Court He fearing therefore lest the King might be made acquainted herewith was forced tho much against his will to clap the Chingulay in Chains In which condition after he got him he released him not till besides the former fee he had given him another Lately was Richard Varnham taken into the Kings service and held as Honourable an employment as ever any Christian had in my time being Commander of Nine Hundred and Seventy Soldiers and â—et over all the great Guns and besides this several Towns were under him A place of no less Profit than Honour The King gave him an excellent Silver Sword and Halberd the like to which the King never gave to any White man in my time But he had the good luck to die a natural Death For had not that prevented in all probability he should have followed the two English men that served him spoken of before Some years since some of our Nation took up Arms under the King Which happened upon this occasion The Hollanders had a small Fort in the Kings Countrey called Bibligom Fort. This the King minded to take and demolish sent his Army to beseige it But being pretty strong for there were about Ninety Dutch men in it besides a good number of Black Soldiers and four Guns on each point one being in this condition it held out Some of the great men informed the King of several Dutch runnaways in his Land that might be trusted not daring to turn again for fear of the Gallows who might help to reduce the Fort. And that also there were white men of other Nations that had Wives and Children from whom they would not run and these might do him good service Unto this advice the King inclined Whereupon the King made a Declaration to invite the forrain Nations into his Service against Bibligom Fort that he would compel none but such as were willing of their own free accord the King would take it kindly and they should be well rewarded Now thâ—re entred into the Kings Service upon this Expedition some of all Nations both Portugueze Dutch and English about the number oâ— Thirty To all that took Arms he gave to the value of Twenty shillings in money and three pieces of Callico for Cloaths and commanded them to wear Breeches Hats and Doublets a great honour there The King intended a Dutch-man who had been an old Servant to him to be Captain over them all But the Portugueze
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
might follow suddenly dispatched and carried all what he had plundered out of the Pagods with him to Columba and stole one of the King's Elephants to carry it upon Wherâ— being arrived he declares himself to be Son of the King of Mautoly who was elder Brother to this King that now is and for fear of whom he fled to Columba being at that time when the Portugals had it who sent him to Goa where he died This being noised abroad that he was a Prince made the People flock faster to him than before Which changed both his heart and behaviour from a Priest to a King Insomuch that the Dutch began to be in doubt what this might grow to Who to prevent the worst set a watch over him which he not liking of took the advantage of the night and fled with all his Followers and Attendance up to the King again and came to the same place where he lay before No sooner had the King notice of his arrival but immediately he dispatched five of his greatest Commanders with their Soldiers to catch him and to bring him up to him Which they did laying both him and all his followers in Chains The King commanded to keep him in a certain Pagoda of the Chingulayes until the matter were examined the People in general much lamenting him tho not able to help The chief of their Church-men viz. their Gonni-nancies were all commanded to make their Personal appearance at Court Which all thought was to see the Prince or Priest should have a legal Trial. But in the mean time the King commanded to cut him in four quarters and hang them in places which he appointed Which was done Nevertheless the Vulgar People to this day do honour and adore the name memorial of the nameless God With which if he could have been content and not have gone about to usurp the Crown the King so little regarding Religion he might have lived to dye a natural death These people do firmly believe a resurrection of the body and the Immortality of Souls and a future State Upon which account they will worship their Ancestors They do beleive that those they call Gods are the spirits of men that formerly have lived upon the earth They hold that in the other world those that are good men tho they be poor and mean in this world yet there they shall become high and eminent and that wicked men shall be turned into beasts There is a Spider among them that breeds an Egg which she carries under her belly 't is as wide as a groat and bigger then the body of the Spider This egg is full of young Spiders that breed there it hangs under her belly wheresoever she goes and as their young ones grow to bigness they eat up the old one Now the Chingulayes say that disobedient children shall become Spiders in the other world and their young ones shall eat them up They hold that every mans good or bad Fortune was predetermined by God before he was born according to an usual Proverb they have Ollua cottaula tiana It is written in the head They reckon the chief poynts of goodness to consist in giving to the Priests in making Pudgiahs sacrifices to their Gods in forbearing shedding the blood of any creature which to do they call Pau boi a great sin and in abstaining from eating any flesh at all because they would not have any hand or any thing to do in killing any living thing They reckon Herbs and Plants more innocent food It is religion also to sweep under the Bogaha or God-Tree and keep it clean It is accounted religion to be just and sober and chast and true and to be endowed with other vertues as we do account it They give to the poor out of a Principle of Charity which they extend to forraigners as well as to their own Country-men But of every measure of rice they boyl in their houses for their families they will take out an handful as much as they can gripe and put into a bag and keep it by it self which they call Mitta-haul And this they give and distribute to such poor as they please or as come to their doors Nor are they charitable only to the poor of their own Nation but as I said to others and particularly to the Moorish beggars who are Mahometans by religion These have a Temple in Cande A certain former king gave this Temple this Priviledg that every Free holder should contribute a Ponnam to it And these Moors go to every house in the land to receive it And if the house be shut they have power to break it open and to take out of goods to the value of it They come very confidently when they beg and they say they come to fulfill the peoples charity And the people do liberrally releive them for charity sake There is only one County in the Land viz. Dolusbaâ—g that pays not the aforesaid duty to the Moors Temple And the reason is that when they came first thither to demand it the Inhabitants beat them away For which act they are free from the payment of that Ponnam and have also another priviledg granted them for the same That they pay no Marral or Harriots to the King as other Countreys do These Moors Pilgrims have many pieces of Land given them by well disposed persons out of charity where they build houses and live And this land becomes theirs from generation to generation for ever They lay Flowers out of religion before their Images every morning and evening for which Images they build little Chappels in their yards as we said before They carry beads in their hands on strings and say so many prayers as they go Which custom in all probability they borrowed of the Portugueze They love a man that makes conscience of his ways Which makes them respect Christians more than any others because they think they are just and will not lye And thus we have finished our discourse of their Religion CHAP. VI. Concerning their Houses Diet Housewifry Salutation Apparel HAving already treated of their Religion we now come to their secular concerns And first we will lead you into their houses and shew you how they live Their Houses are small low thatched Cottages built with sticks daubed with clay the walls made very smooth For they are not permitted to build their houses above one story high neither may they cover with tiles nor whiten their walls with lime but there is a Clay which is as white and that they use sometimes They employ no Carpenters or house-builders unless some few noble-men but each one buildeth his own dwelling In building whereof there is not so much as a nail used but instead of them every thing which might be nailed is tyed with rattans and other strings which grow in the woods in abundance whence the builder hath his Timber for cutting The Country being warm many
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
kept in the Palace This Horse sometime after died as it is supposed of old Age. Which extremely troubled the King and imagining they had been instrumental to his Death by their carelessness he commanded two of them Monsieur Du Plessy and Iean Bloom to be carried away into the Mountains and kept Prisoners in Chains where they remained when I came thence The rest of them follow Employments some whereof Still Rack and keep the greatest Taverns in the City Lately a little before I came from the Island the King understanding the disagreements and differences that were still kept on foot betwixt the Ambassador and the rest of his Company disliked it and used these means to make them Friends He sent â—or them all the Ambassador and the rest and told them That it was not seemly for Persons as they were at such a distance from their own Countrey to quarrel and fall out and that if they had any love for God or the King of France or himself that they should go home with the Ambassador and agree and live together They went back together not daring to disobey the King And as soon as they were at home the King sent a Banquet after them of Sweetmeats and Fruits to eat together They did eat the King's Banquet but it would not make the Reconcilement For after they had done each man went home and dwelt in their own Houses as they did before It was thought that this carriage would offend the King and that he would at least take away their Allowance And it is probable before this time the King hath taken Vengeance on them But the Ambassador's carriage is so imperious that they would rather venture whatsoever might follow than be subject to him And in this case I leâ—t them Since my return to England I presumed by a Letter to inform the French Ambassador then in London of the abovesaid Matters thinking my self bound in Conscience and Christian Charity to do my endeavour that their Friends knowing their Condition may use means for their Deliverance The Letter ran thus THese may acquaint your Excellency That having been a Prisoner in the Island of Ceilon under the King of that Countrey near Twenty years by means of this my long detainment there I became acquainted with the French Ambassador and the other Gentlemen his Retinue being in all Eight Persons who was sent to Treat with the said King in the Year MDCLXXII by Monsieur De la Hay who came with a Fleet to the Port of Cotiar or Trinkemalay from whence he sent these Gentlemen And knowing that from thence it is scarce possible to send any Letters or Notice to other Parts for in all the time of my Captivity I could never send one word whereby my Friends here might come to hear of my Condition until with one more I made an Escape leaving Sixteen English men yet there The Kindness I have received from those French Gentlemen as also my Compassion for them being detained in the same place with me hath obliged and constrained me to presume to trouble your Lordship with this Paper not knowing any other means whereby I might convey Notice to their Friends and Relations which is all the Service I am able to perform for them The Ambassador's Name I know not there is a Kinsman of his called Monsieur le Serle and a yong Gentleman called Monsieur du Plessey and another named Monsieur la Roche The rest by Name I know not And then an account of them is given according to what I have mentioned above I shall not presume to be farther tedious to your Honour craving Pardon for my boldness which my Affection to those Gentlemen being detained in the same Land with me hath occasioned Concerning whom if your Lordship be pleased farther to be informed I shall be both willing and ready to be Yours c. The Ambassador upon the receipt of this desired to speak with me Upon whom I waited and he after some Speech with me told me he would send word into France of it and gave me Thanks for this my Kindness to his Countreymen It may be worth some inquiry what the reason might be that the King detains the Europaean People as he does It cannot be out of hope of Profit or Advantage for they are so far from bringing him any that they are a very great Charge being all maintained either by him or his People Neither is it in the power of Money to redeem any one for that he neither needs nor values Which makes me conclude it is not out of Profit nor Envy or ill will but out of Love and Favour that he keeps them delighting in their Company and to have them ready at his Command For he is very ambitious of the Service of these Men and winks at many of their failings more than he uses to do towards his Natural Subjects As may appear from a Company of White Soldiers he hath who upon their Watch used to be very negligent one lying Drunk here and another there Which remisness in his own Soldiers he would scarce have indured but it would have cost them their lives But with these he useth more Craft than Severity to make them more watchful These Soldiers are under two Captains the one a Dutch man and the other a Portugueze They are appointed to Guard one of the King's Magazines where they always keep Sentinel both by Day and Night This is a pretty good distance from the Court and here it was the King contrived their Station that they might swear and swagger out of his hearing and that no body might disturb them nor they no body The Dutch Captain lyes at one side of the Gate and the Portugueze at the other Once the King to employ these his white Soldiers and to honour them by letting them see what an assurance he reposed in them sent one of his Boys thither to be kept Prisoner which they were very Proud of They kept him two years in which time he had learnt both the Dutch and Portugueze Language Afterwards the King retook the Boy into his Service and within a short time after Executed him But the King's reason in sending this Boy to be kept by these Soldiers was probably not as they supposed and as the King himself outwardly pretended viz. To shew how much he confided in them but out of Design to make them look the better to their Watch which their Debauchery made them very remiss in For the Prisoners Hands only were in Chains and not his Legs so that his possibility of running away having his Legs at liberty concerned them to be circumspect and wakeful And they knew if he had escaped it were as much as their lives were worth By this crafty and kind way did the King correct the negligence of his white Soldiers Indeed his inclinations are much towards the Europaeans making them his great Officers accounting them more faithful and
trusty than his own People With these he often discourses concerning the Affairs of their Countreys and promotes them to places far above their Ability and sometimes their Degree or Desert And indeed all over the Land they do bear as it were a natural respect and reverence to White Men in as much as Black they hold to be inferior to White And they say the Gods are White and that the Souls of the Blessed after the Resurrection shall be White and therefore that Black is a rejected and accursed colour And as further signs of the King's favour to them there are many Privileges which White Men have and enjoy as tolerated or allowed them from the King which I suppose may proceed from the aforesaid Consideration as to wear any manner of Apparel either Gold Silver or Silk Shoes and Stockings a shoulder Belt and Sword their Houses may be whitened with Lime and many such like things all which the Chingulayes are not permitted to do He will also sometimes send â—or them into his Presence and discourse familiarly with them and entertain them with great Civilities especially white Ambassadors They are greatly chargeable unto his Countrey but he regards it not in the least So that the People are more like Slaves unto us than we unto the King In as much as they are inforced by his Command to bring us maintenance Whose Poverty is so great oftentimes that for want of what they supply us with themselves their Wives and Children are forced to suffer hunger this being as a due Tax imposed upon them to pay unto us Neither can they by any Power or Authority refuse the Payment hereof to us For in my own hearing the People once complaining of their Poverty and Inability to give us any longer our Allowance the Magistrate or Governor replied It was the King's special Command and who durst disannul it And if otherwise they could not supply us with our maintenance he bad them sell their Wives and Children rather than we should want of our due Such is the favour that Almighty God hath given Christian People in the sight of this Heathen King whose entertainment and usage of them is thus favourable If any enquire into the Religious exercise and Worship practised among the Christians here I am sorry I must say it I can give but a slender account For they have no Churches nor no Priests and so no meetings together on the Lord's Dayes for Divine Worship but each one Reads or Prays at his own House as he is disposed They Sanctifie the Day chiefly by refraining work and meeting together at Drinking-houses They continue the practice of Baptism and there being no Priests they Baptize their Children themselves with Water and use the words In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and give them Christian Names They have their Friends about them at such a time and make a small Feast according to their Ability and some teach their Children to say their Prayers and to Read and some do not Indeed their Religion at the best is but Negative that is they are not Heathen they do not comply with the Idolatry here practised and they profess themselves Christians in a general manner which appears by their Names and by their Beads and Crosses that some of them wear about their Necks Nor indeed can I wholly clear them from complyance with the Religion of the Countrey For some of them when they are Sick do use the Ceremonies which the Heathen do in the like case as in making Idols of clay and setting them up in their Houses and Offering Rice to them and having Weavers to Dance before them But they are ashamed to be known to do this and I have known none to do it but such as are Indians born Yet I never knew any of them that do inwardly in Heart and Conscience incline to the ways of the Heathen but perfectly abhor them nor have there been any I ever heard of that came to their Temples upon any Religious account but only would stand by and look on without it were one old Priest named Padre Vergonce a Genoez born and of the Iesuits Order who would go to the Temples and eat with the Weavers and other ordinary People of the Sacrifices offered to the Idols but with this Apology for himself that he eat it as common Meat and as God's Creature and that it was never the worse for their Superstition that had past upon it But however this may reflect upon the Father another thing may be related for his Honour There happened two Priests to fall into the hands of the King on whom he conferred great Honours for having laid aside their Habits they kept about his Person and were the greatest Favourites at Court The King one day sent for Vergonse and asked him if it would not be better for him to lay aside his old Coat and Cap and to do as the other two Priests had done and receive Honour from him He replied to the King That he boasted more in that old habit and in the Name of Iesus than in all the honour that he could do him And so refused the King's Honour The King valued the Father for this saying He had a pretty Library about him and died in his Bed of old Age whereas the two other Priests in the King's Service died miserably one of a Canker and the other was slain The old Priest had about Thiâ—ty or Forty Books which the King they say seized on after his Death and keeps These Priests and more lived there but all deceased excepting Vergonse before my time The King allowed them to build a Church which they did and the Portugueze assembled there but they made no better than a Bawdy-house of it for which cause the King commanded to pull it down Although here be Protestants and Papists yet here are no differences kept up among them but they are as good Friends as if there were no such Parties And there is no other Distinctions of Religion there but only Heathens and Christians and we usually say We Christians FINIS Books printed for and sold by Richard Chiswel FOLIO SPEED's Maps and Geography of Great Britain and Ireland and of Foreign Parts Dr. Cave's Lives of the Primitive Fathers Dr. Cary's Chronological Account of Anciâ—â—t time Wanly's Wonders of the little World or History of Man Sir Tho. Herbert's Travels into Persia c. Holyoak's large Dictionary Latin and English Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle of England Causâ—n's Holy Court Wilson's compleat Christian Dictionary Bishop Wilkin's Real Character or Philosophical Language Pharmacopaeia Regalis Collegii Medicorum Londinensis reformata Iudge Ione's Reports in Common â—â—w Iudge Vauâ—han's Reports in Common Law Cave Tabulae Ecclesiasticorum Scriptorum Hobbe's Leviathan Lord Bacon's Advancement of Learning Sir W. Dugdale's Baronage of England in 2 Vol. QUARTO DR Littleton's Dictionary Bishop Nicâ—olson on the Church
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
prompted to or earnestly solicited for it neglect to do it others delay to do it so long till they have forgotten what they intended Such as these Importunity would prevail upon to disclose their knowledge if fitting Persons were found to Discourse and ask them Questions and to Compile the Answers into a History Of this kind was lately produc'd in High Dutch a History of Greenland by Dr. Fogelius of Hamborough from the Information of Frederick Martin who had made several Voyages to that Place in the doing of which he made use of the Instruction given by the Royal Society 'T is much to be wondred that we should to this Day want a good History of most of our VVest-Indian Plantations Ligon has done well for the Barbadoes and somewhat has been done for the Summer Islands Virginia c. But how far are all these short even of the knowledge of these and other Places of the VVest-Indies which may be obtain'd from divers knowing Planters now Residing in London And how easie were it to obtain what is Defective from some Ingenious Persons now Resident upon the Places if some way were found to gratifie them for their Performances However till such be found 't is to be hoped that the kind Acceptance only the Publick shall give to this present Work may excite several other Ingenuous and knowing Men to follow this Generous Example of Captain Knox who though he could bring away nothing almost upon his Back or in his Purse did yet Transport the whole Kingdom of Cande Uda in his Head and by Writing and Publishing this his Knowledge has freely given it to his Countrey and to You Reader in particular 'T was not I confess without the earnest Solicitations and Endeavours of my self and some others of his Friends obtain'd from him but this uneasiness of parting with it was not for want of Generosity and Freedom enough in Communicating whatever he knew or had observed but from that usual Prejudice of Modesty and too mean an Opinion of his own Knowledge and Abiâ—â—ties of doing any thing should be worthy the view of the Publick And had he found leisure to Compose it he could have filled a much greater Volume with useful and pertinent as well as unusual and strange Observations He could have inrich't it with a more particular Description of many of their curious Plants Fruits Birds Fishes Insects Minerals Stones and told you many more of the Medicinal and other uses of them in Trades and Manufactures He could have given you a compleat Dictionary of their Language understanding and speaking it as well as his Mother Tongue But his Occasions would not permit him to do more at present Yet the Civil Usage this his First-born meets with among his Countreymen may 'tis hoped oblige him to gratifie them with further Discoveries and Observations in his future Travels To conclude He has in this History given you a tast of his Observations In which most Readers though of very differing Gusts may find somewhat very pleasant to their Pallat. The Statesman Divine Physitian Lawyet Merchant Mechanick Husbandman may select something for their Entertainment The Philosopher and Historian much more I believe at least all that love Truth will be pleas'd for from that little Conversation I had with him I conceive him to be no ways prejudiced or byassed by Interest affection or hatred fear or hopes or the vain-glory of telling Strange Things so as to make him swarve from the truth of Matter of Fact And for his opportunity of being informed any one may satisfie himself when he understands his almost 20 years Abode and Converse among them His Skill in the Language and Customs of the People his way of Employment in Travelling and Trading over all Parts of the Kingdom add to this his Breeding till 19 years of Age under his Father a Captain for the East-India Company and his own Natural and acquired parts but above all his good Reputation which may be judged from the Employment That Worshipful Company have now freely bestowed upon him having made him Commander of the Tarquin Merchant and intrusted him to undertake a Voyage to Tarquin Read therefore the Book it self and you will find your self taken Captive indeed but used more kindly by the Author than he himself was by the Natives After a general view of the Sea Coasts he will lead you into the Country by the Watches through the Thorney Gates then Conduct you round upon the Mountains that Encompass and Fortifie the whole Kingdom and by the way carry you to the top of Hommalet or Adam's Peak from those he will descend with you and shew you their chief Cities and Towns and pass through them into the Countrey and there acquaint you with their Husbandry then entertain you with the Fruits Flowers Herbs Roots Plants and Trees and by the way shelter you from Sun and Rain with a Fan made of the Talipat-Leaf Then shew you their Beasts Birds Fish Serpents Insects and last of all their Commodities From hence he will carry you to Court and shew you the King in the several Estates of his Life and acquaint you with his way of Governing Revenues Treasures Officers Governors Military Strength Wars and by the way entertain you with an account of the late Rebellion against him After which he will bring you acquainted with the Inhabitants themselves whence you may know their different Humours Ranks and Qualities Then you may visit their Temples such as they are and see the Foppery of their Priests Religious Opinions and Practices both in their Worship and Festivals and afterwards go home to their Houses and be acquainted with their Conversation and Entertainment see their Housewifery Furniture Finery and understand how they Breed and Dispose of their Children in Marriage and in what Employments and Recreations they pass their time Then you may acquaint your self with their Language Learning Laws and if you please with their Magick Iugling And last of all with their Diseases Sickness Death and manner of Burial After which he will give you a full account of the Reason of his own Going to and Detainment in the Island of Ceylon and Kingdom of Conde-Uda And of all his various Conditions and the Accidents that befel him there during Nineteen years and an halfs abode among them And by what ways and means at last he made his Escape and Returned safe into England in September last 1680. Aug. 1. 1681. Robert Hooke To the Right Worshipful Sir William Thomson Knight Governor Thomas Papillon Esquire Deputy and the 24 Committees of the Honorable EAST-INDIA Company hereunder Specified Viz. The Right Honorable George Earl of Berkley The Right Honorable Iames Lord Chandois Sir Matthew Andrews Knight Sir Iohn Bancks Baronet Sir Samuel Barnardiston Baronet Mr. Christopher Boone Iohn Bathurst Esquire Sir Iosia Child Baronet Mr. Thomas Canham Collonel Iohn Clerk Sir Iames Edwards Knight Mr. Ioseph Herne Richard Hutchinson Esquire Iames Hublon Esquire Sir Iohn Lethieullier
Tree as big as an Apple-Tree bears a Berry somewhat like an Olive but sharper at each end its Skin is of a reddish green colour which covereth an hard stone They make use of it for Physic in Purges and also to dy black colour Which they do after this manner They take the fruit and beat it to pieces in Mortars and put it thus beaten into water and after it has been soaking a day or two it changeth the water that it looks like Beer Then they dip their cloth in it or what they mean to dy and dry it in the Sun And then they dip it in black mud and so let it ly about an hour then take it and wash it in water and now it will appear of a pale black Then being dry they dip it again into the aforesaid Dy and it becomes a very good black Another use there is of this water It is this Let any rusty Iron ly a whole night in it and it will become bright and the water look black like Ink insomuch that men may write with it These Trees grow but in some Parts of the Land and nothing near so plentiful as Cinnamon The Berries the Drugsters in the City there do fell in their Shops The Dounekaia gauhah a shrub bears leaves as broad as two fingers and six or eight foot long on both sides of them set full of Thorns and a streak of Thorns runs thro the middle These leaves they split to weave Matts withal The Tree bears a bud above a span long tapering somewhat like a Sugar-loaf Leaves cover this bud folding it about like the leaves of a Cabbage Which leaves smell rarely sweet and look of a lovely yellow colour like gold This bud blowes into divers bunches of Flowers spreading it self open like a Plume of Feathers each Flower whitish but very small The Roots of this shrub they use for Ropes splitting them into Thongs and then making them into Ropes The Capita gauhah is a shrub never bigger than a mans arm The Wood Rind and Leaves have all a Physical smell and they do sometimes make use of it for Physic. The Leaf is of a bright green roundish rough and as big as the palm of an hand No sort of Cattel will eat it no not the Goats that will sometimes brouze upon rank poyson There is abundance of these Trees every where and they grow in all Countreys but in Ouvah And this is supposed to be the cause that the Ouvah-Cattle dy when they are brought thence to any other Country They attribute it to the smell of this Tree of such a venomous nature it is to Beasts And therefore to destroy their Fleas or to keep their houses clear of them they sweep them with Brooms made of this shrub 'T is excellent good for firing and will burn when it is green There are no other coals the Goldsmiths use but what are made of this wood Rattans grow in great abundance upon this Island They run like Honey-suckles either upon the Ground or up Trees as it happens near Twenty fathom in length There is a kind of a shell or skin grows over the Rattan and encloseth it round Which serves for a Case to cover and defend it when tender This Skin is so full of prickles and thorns that you cannot touch it As the Rattan growes longer and stronger this Case growes ripe and falls off prickles and shell and all It bears fruit in clusters just like bunches of Grapes and as big Every particular Berry is covered with a husk like a Gooseberry which is soft yellow and scaly like the scales of a Fish hansome to look upon This husk being cracked and broken within grows a Plum of a whitish colour within the Plum a stone having meat about it The people gather and boyl them to make sour pottage to quench the thirst Canes grow just like Rattans and bear a fruit like them The difference onely is that the Canes are larger The Tree that bears the Betel-leaf which is so much loved and eaten in these parts growes like Ivy twining about Trees or Poles which they stick in the ground for it to run up by and as the Betel growes the Poles grow also The form of the Leaf is longish the end somewhat sharp broadest next to the stalk of a bright green very smooth just like a Pepper leaf onely different in the colour the Pepper leaf being of a dark green It bears a fruit just like long Pepper but not good for seed for it falls off and rots upon the ground But when they are minded to propagate it they plant the spriggs which will grow I shall mention but one Tree more as famous and highly set by as any of the rest if not more tho it bear no fruit the benefit consisting chiefly in the Holiness of it This Tree they call Bo-gahah we the God-Tree It is very great and spreading the Leaves always shake like an Asp. They have a very great veneration for these Trees worshipping them upon a Tradition That the Buddou a great God among them when he was upon the Earth did use to sit under this kind of Trees There are many of these Trees which they plant all the Land over and have more care of than of any other They pave round under them like a Key sweep often under them to keep them clean they light Lamps and set up their Images under them and a stone Table is placed under some of them to lay their Sacrifices on They set them every where in Towns and High wayes where any convenient places are they serve also for shade to Travellers They will also set them in memorial of persons deceased to wit there where their Bodies were burnt It is held meritorious to plant them which they say he that does shall dy within a short while after and go to Heaven But the oldest men onely that are nearest death in the course of Nature do plant them and none else the younger sort desiring to live a little longer in this World before they go to the other CHAP. V. Of their Roots Plants Herbs Flowers SOme of these are for Food and some for Medicine I begin with their Roots which with the Iacks before mentioned being many and generally bearing well are a great help towards the sustenance of this People These by the Chingulays by a general name are called Alloes by the Portugals and us Inyames They are of divers and sundry sorts some they plant and some grow wild those that grow wild in the Woods are as good onely they are more scarce and grow deeper and so more difficult to be plucked up It would be to no purpose to mention their particular names I shall onely speak a little in general of them They serve both for Food and for Carrees that is sauce or for a relish to their Rice But they make many a meal of them alone to lengthen out
a circumspect care to walk in his ways and then he said God would bless me and prosper me And next he bad me have a care of my Brother and Sister And lastly He gave me a special charge to beware of strong Drink and lewd Company which as by Experience many had found would change me into another man so that I should not be my self It deeply grieved him he said to see me in Captivity in the prime of my years and so much the more because I had chosen rather to suffer Captivity with him than to disobey his Command Which now he was heartily sorry for that he had so commanded me but bad me not repent of obeying the command of my Father seeing for this very thing he said God would bless me and bid me be assured of it which he doubted not of viz. That God Almighty would deliver me which at that time I could not tell how to conceive seeing but little sign of any such Matter But blessed be the Name of my most gracious God who hath so bountifully sustained me ever since in the Land of my Captivity and preserved me alive to see my Deceased Father's word fulfilled And truly I was so far from repenting that I had obeyed the Command of my Father and performed the Oath and Promise I made unto him upon it that it rather rejoyced me to see that God had given me so much Grace But tho it was a trouble to him that by his means I was thus made a Captive yet it was a great Comfort to him he said to have his own Son sit by him on his Death-bed and by his hands to be Buried whereas otherwise he could expect no other but to be eaten by Dogs or wild Beasts Then he gave me order concerning his Burial That having no winding sheâ—t I should pull his Shirt over his head and slip his Bâ—eeches over his feet and so wrap him up in the Mat he layd upon and then ceased speaking and fell into a Slumber This was about Eight or Nine a Clock in the Evening and about Two or Three in the Morning he gave up the Ghost Feb. the Ninth 1660. being very sensible unto the very instant of his Departure According to his own appointment with my own hands I wrapped him up ready for the Grave my self being very sick and weak and as I thought ready to follow after him Having none but the black Boy with me I bad him ask the People of the Town for help to carry my Father to the Grave because I could not understand their Language Who immediately brought forth a great Rope they used to tye their Cattle withal therewith to drag him by the Neck into the Woods saying They could afford me no other help unless I would pay for it This Insolency of the Heathen grieved me much to see neither could I with the Boy alone do what was necessary for his Burial though we had been able to carry the Corps having not wherewithal to dig a Grave and the ground very dry and hard Yet it was some comfort to me that I had so much Ability as to hire one to help which at first I would not have spared to have done had I known their meaning By this means I thank God in so decent a manner as our present condition would permit I laid my Father's Body in the Grave Most of which I digged with my own hands the place being in a Wood on the North-side of a Corn Field where heretofore we had used often to walk going up to Handapoul that Division as I have said being called Bonder Cooswat because formerly it had belonged to the Revenues or Iointure of the Queen Bonder implying something relating to the King It lyes towards the Northwest of the middle of the Island in the County of Hotcurly Thus was I left Desolate Sick and in Captivity having no earthly Comforter none but only He who looks down from Heaven to hear the groaning of the Prisoners and to shew himself a Father of the Fatherless and a present help to them that have no helper The News of my Father's Death being carried to Court presently two Messengers were sent from thence to see me and to know of me How and in what manner my Father died and what he had left Which was a Gold Ring a Pagoda and some two or three Dollars and a few old Cloths God knows but a very little yet it scared me not a little fearing they would take it away from me and my want being so great but they had no such order nor intent But the chief occasion of their coming was to renew the former order unto the People of that Town that they should be kind to me and give me good Victuals lest I might dye also as my Father had done So for a while I had better entertainment than formerly 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 I Still remained where I was before having none but the black Boy and my Ague to bear me Company Never found I more pleasure in Reading Meditating and Praying than now For there was nothing else could administer to me any Comfort neither had I any other Business to be occupied about I had read my two Books so often over that I had them almost by heart For my custom was after Dinner to take a Book and go into the Fields and sit under a Tree reading and meditating until Evening excepting the Day when my Ague came for then I could scarce hold up my head Often have I prayed as Elijah under the Iuniper Tree that God would take away my life for it was a burthen to me At length it pleased God my Ague began to be a little moderate and so by degrees it wore away after it had held me sixteen Months Provisions falling short with me tho Rice I thank God I never wanted and Monies also growing low as well to help out a Meal as for Recreation sometimes I went with an Angle to catch small Fish in the Brooks the aforesaid Boy being with me It chanced as I was Fishing an old Man passed by and seeing me asked of my Boy If I could read in a Book He answered Yes The reason I ask said the old Man is because I have one I got when the Portugueze lost Columbo and if your Master please to buy it I will sell it him Which when I heard of I bad my Boy go to his House with him which was not far off and bring it to me to see it making no great account of the matter supposing it might be some Portugueze Book The Boy having formerly served the English knew the Book and as soon as he had got it in his hand came running with it calling out to me It is a Bible It startled me to hear him mention the name
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