painted with streaks u f red and black. I t was attended by
two'priests, who permitted us to enter without any difficulty ;
nor did they insist on our taking o ff. our shoes', a custom
which they generally oblige visitors to observe. Their duty
was to wait at the temple, and never to allow the lamp burned
before the image to be extinguished. Another reason perhaps
operated as powerfully as the rules of their order to enforce
their constant attendance; which, was, to rfeceive the efo
ferings of the votaries who continually - flock to -this temple..
Our detachment afforded very welcome visitors, as every one
who went thither always left some tlbney, fru it,-!or rice, for
the service of the god. - The natives who repair hither for the
purposes of devotion are constantly obliged to contribute either
money, rice, cloth, or 'some other commodity of value. From
the numerous votaries who frequent this temple, the priests
are reputed to possess great riches; and the king, who never
foils to come in for his share of every thing, accordingly taxes
them very highly. I doubt not, that his Majesty^ would be
well pleased that his priests should frequently have • such liberal
visitors as they found our troops daring our stay at Ruanelli.
Adjoining the temple where the image Was placed* Were- t# o
other apartments where the priests resided at 'fhife' horns When
their attendance on Buddou was not 'requisite.
This day it began to rain violently about two o’clock, •accompanied
with severe peals of thunder succeeding Cacb tether
almost without an interval. Sent down to Columbo 'four sick
Imen of the I'9th regiment.
27th. Remained in the same place. The early part of th e
day uncommonly hot, with terrible thunder and lightning about
the usual hour. The evening was very- co ld : the dews which
fell at night were uncommonly; heavy, and did not disperse
till the sun-^roke through next morning in his full heat. Several
coolfos Inst. y
v ?28th, |p ic ! heat- *: Ofi, th e d a y very, great; therrnometer at
Distant thunder and lightning. • Theygéneral Continued
to' wait foï<> cOolieS' to replace those who- had deserted; nor Was
at indeed possible to pröceéd Without a favourable* change in
th e weatbef ;
- 29th.1 Mórni'ng- very hot; Captain Kennedy who commanded
dfetadMsht- of?'th&'19th; -having been- very- UT sSroé-töftr air-
iftaP hhfh, ivas'serifc byUsvater tro-Cblumbo, wbesjefoe-died in a
fortnight after. About three1 (Mock it commenced, a' heavy rain,
which " ettitimifed inéeSsafitly for fete hours with severe.1 thunder
ahd iigltehihg.i!, ;
30th. The'liable‘weather as yesterday, with thé storm of as
e&hfinuanqe. During -our sttty here several messages passed
between, the general and •'the' Adigar, who 1,lay about the distance
. ik two miles across the river. Tlie natives sCemed very
fouch £ displeased a t‘ -our bringing artilléry info their 'country;
óte stirring beyond* the limits èf our camp, although permission
had been- obtained from the court of Candy te -have this enrt-
bassy.mórè splendid and numerous than .any which1 had pjre-
eédéd it, and1 although,' ordete had b e en 1 issued to-give ufcj the
most* friendly reception. I t was indeed reported that the king
found himself at that time in rather a* ‘precarioiis-' si-tuatfon,
from thé internal divisions: and fattfons'' among hfch subjects?
whifeS'ïnadé him wish that the -escort attending the “embassy
should be- aS strong4 a
man of great power and intrigue, and, as we had reason to süs*-
pect, not Very friendly, to thé English, had . sufficient influence
! 3 E 1