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.

[He resolves upon a single life.] 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 Jews 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.

[What employments they follow.] 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 Country 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 subsist.  Most of their Wives spin Cotton yarn, which is a great help to them for cloathing, and at spare times also knit.

[The respect and credit they live in.] 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.

[A Chingulay punished for beating an English man.] 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 Judg 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 Justice 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.

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