An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 438 pages of information about An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.

An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 438 pages of information about An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies.

[The Captain’s Order to them on board the Ship.] Upon which the Captain sent two of his men, some Indians accompanying them in a Canoo to the Ship, the Captain ordering them when they were aboard not to abuse the Indians, but to entertain them very kindly, and afterwards that setting them ashore, they should keep the Canoo to themselves, instead of our two Boats, which they had gotten from us, and to secure the Ship, and wait till further order.

These two men stayed on Board, and came not back again.  This together with the Ships not coming up displeased the Dissauva, and he demanded of the Captain the reason thereof.  His answer was, That being detained on Shore, the Men on Board would not obey his Command.  Upon this some days after the Dissauva bid the Captain send his Son with order to those aboard that the Ship might be brought into the River, but provided that he would be Security for my return; which he promised he would.  His order to me was, to see the top Chains put upon the Cables, and the Guns Shotted, and to tell Mr. John Burford chief Mate, and all the rest, as they valued their Lives and Liberties to keep a Watch, and not to suffer any Boat to come near, after it was dark:  and charged me upon his Blessing, and as I should answer it at the great Day, not to leave him in this Condition, but to return to him again.  Upon which I solemnly vowed according to my Duty to be his Obedient Son.

[The Ships Company refuse to bring up the Ship.] So having seen all done according to his appointment, I wrote a Letter in the Name of the Company to clear my Father and my self, to this effect; That they would not obey the Captain, nor any other in this matter, but were resolved to stand upon their own defence.  To which they all set their hands.  Which done according to my Promise and Duty I returned again, and delivered the Letter to the Dissauva, who was thereby answered, and afterwards urged the Captain no more in that matter:  but gave him leave at his pleasure to write for what he pleased to have brought to him from the Ship:  still pretending the King’s order to release us, was not yet, but would suddenly come.  And so we remained expecting it about two Months, being entertained as formerly with the best Diet and Accommodation of the Countrey.

[The Captain orders the ship to depart.] Having continued thus long in suspence, and the time and season of the year spending for the Ship to proceed on her Voyage to some other place, and our condition being, as we feared, and afterwards found to be, the beginning of a sad Captivity, the Captain sent order to Mr. John Burford to take the charge of the Ship upon him, and to set Sail for Porto Nova whence we came, and there to follow the Agent’s order.

[The Lading of Cloth remained untouched.] If any inquire what became of the Cloth of our Lading, which we brought thither, they only took an account to see what it was, and so left it where and as it was before, and there it remained until both House and Goods rotted, as the People of the same Town informed me afterwards.

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An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.