Was with them t h e p lin g passion* and while« tfoey could carry on
their commerce in the towns on the sea-x?dâ#ÿ^eyjoiicerned them.- i,
selves very little with th^nMrHrGObS USapd. Many Dutchmen,
even of .the better sort, had resided on Ceylon,for,a considerable
number of years, .without havftg ever been so m u e ra s a few
leagues'from the coast. Even those ƒ nt to eommand there'were
seldom meri‘l r Ûhp&elrâ. â f â s AiM^rdvidi d could, ^ecuæ
their own interests, they Were'unwilling,to,_occupy their attention
with the prosecution of,plariTvî«eft Wight have been productive of
national benefits. llllÉL SSBB|i!l
All these causes conspirèd^^ render'the ac|aui\%w^iich Ejnpoeans
g o s s e s# <$ iW f
spoily<mvmp(L'4 ^ ia t»the urn'roy p o li c y ^ 'th e Dugeh
and the selfish views of'" their offices} had
many things which tended greatly to increase the value .ftfthe c9l ^
jt ff f £& if ! was« r n k &*. ouç .possession, tfeesy ideasiamde a jffpM ^
M f r é® ^ b a ^ < n f if td ;i â ^ :th e& p e tM t.1 * 1# « o a n t r ib p t ^
render this tehiatolè tom ÿ Mrantoy* &muapf
M e iss to ih ^ é sè a rc h è â ^ f l g * vastrimpdriffiee dfii t b f ô i i a ^
m m & ctomtereial and? politick wfoyyïmadé memun&tent thM
%jjbh- ô§? Bbïhbaÿ, f t contai*« thie:oidy-*^daii:ipifla«KO!Di ti»-©«*«*
mandel or Malabar coâsts, in which ships can moor. îûisaâstyi At
à ^ seasën s^E th e yW ; a n d ^ n b e f e é i f t eafoeinto-our passed
M its internal produce presented several rich. antictesy t o i ^
r m c â - À à y ^ e m p t th e re fo r tot&rdw light o n th
pf the« island, and thus -to pbint out the. meaBSi Qfqimprbvmg. fts
internal cUMVationf ahd securing i t against: the attacks of exter-
hài e f i ë n ïïd é i^ t r ^ ^ lédèt W t* th e ^ e ritoE a im in g a t a. national
béiiefît.-
%''!:Fiw.\I'Cdjftimhtd';.roy inquiries; and was
fortunatere>nbughi to have .every..opportunity in the. prosecution of
them which the present situation of the.- island affords. ; During
a-,.-Ae#idifi^r?pf' UfSvardii' of ;three^^S'Ii;tjsitpd: fa|foe§t jevqry part
of^the^sea^-coasfe; anuffoefore X left the island, I y«ag become quite
fofoiliar yftfo its general appearance, its natural the
present #tafetjUfi-ft^uftivatiGiij, and hbe-manoefs, anil|j dispositions
«ftfifo>rihhftbitatafe /fitama® .ieolfcaKsy'dsemg. rSunt-otp-, the. native
Eing> of the island* 1 was-also iyheis§’-&0^cms‘ who were
appointed,? tod apeo.mp amylit -r. and . by this{ means; had ..an fhpppr-
ttvnitjgiljf tobsCrving the dnt&BiOr o'f . the« ettunby^ iftto w the
fofoQ.Msy .rofi ithe; ■ natives.has fseWtemdp^Siajtted; <anyj European; d$ .
.pe®'e#atC'. -
■ /.'The advantages - which i% derived ffoni«pi^0naHy5:viiifm§^|^e (
gtgafpr part |j of the- rMand,. wore hvery imiteh .impEbristb -by the i
assistanee of f Mr. Donnieu^ fa3.iD»%^j<gentleimaudin''fth@ /English
Sbfyfoif who liad resided .upwards of tWenifey years.; in if^eyfon,
and had during that period acquired a complete ; knowledge.: both
of; th e maimers; and laiaguage: of ;its sevmah,'iahahitants. By his
means* thendbre, I was enabled <t®jgi^iover Briny ^obstacles .which
pfifoshhfied' thbrnselv^ to^riiyprhsearche's'; .and the valuabl^corUmurendered,
merfossealHsaJi serijiisslin
Conq^letihg my' accou-Rtfuof Gey Ion . r© I have>bpen ■
'Cafec^il'ffofc- t© advaiieef anjyi-fa©t df-''WihiGh,I was: « a t either an |
witness, <oir which was: not•deriv/ed.from infptfmatfon>;»that;3io kfflm
could hesitate toshelidife T»he manners, an d f^istomw^ if .fcherinha^
hitantS ; I have ' endefivoiured to desferibe in the mannerlthey impressed
my mind at the time f observCdl theim.’ I |^ r e .forhedfeds
the sam^ rphlfla in giving a a ahChuht oil the uattairial prodbefinu^,
c f the island;. and hence any.- observations may. hfettlfod^ht. more
m i