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.

[And in the Towns among the Inhabitants.] But when we came out of the Woods among Inhabitants and were led into their Towns, they brought us Victuals ready dressed after their fashion, viz.  Rice boiled in Water, and three other sorts of Food, whereof one Flesh, and the other two Herbs or such like things that grow in their Countrey, and all kinds of ripe Fruit, which we liked very well and fed heartily upon.  Our entertainment all along was at the Charge of the Countrey:  So we fed like Soldiers upon free Quarter.  Yet I think we gave them good content for all the Charge we put them to.  Which was to have the satisfaction of seeing us eat, sitting on Mats upon the Ground in their yards to the Publick view of all Beholders.  Who greatly admired us, having never seen, nor scarce heard of, English-men before.  It was also great entertainment to them to observe our manner of eating with Spoons, which some of us had, and that we could not take the Rice up in our hands, and put it to our mouths without spilling, as they do, nor gaped and powred the Water into our Mouths out of Pots according to their Countreys custom.  Thus at every Town where we came they used both young and old in great Companies to stare upon us.

[They are brought near Cande, and there Seperated.] Being thus brought up all together somewhat near to the City of Cande.  Now came an Order from the King to separate us, and to place us one in a Town.  Which then seemed to us to be very hard, but it was for the convenience or getting Food, being quartered upon the Countrey at their Charge.

[The Captain and his Son and two more quartered together.] The Captain Mr. John Loveland, my self and John Gregory were parted from the rest, and brought nearer to the City, to be ready when the King should send for us.  All the Rest were placed one in a Town according to the aforesaid Order.  Special Command also was given from the King, that we all should be well entertained, and according to the Countrey fare we had no cause to complain.  We four were thus kept together some two Months, faring well all the while.  But the King minding us not, [Parted.] Order came from the great Men in Court to place us in Towns, as the rest were; only my Father and I were still permitted to be together, and a great Charge given to use us well. [How they fared.] And indeed twice a Day we had brought unto us as good fare as the Countrey afforded.  All the rest had not their Provisions brought to them, as we had, but went to eat from house to house, each house taking its turn.

[The Captain and his Son placed in Coos-wat.] On the Sixteenth of September, 1660.  My Father and I were placed in a Town called Bonder Coos-wat the situation was very pleasing and commodious, lying about Thirty Miles to the Northward of the City of Cande, in the Countrey called Hotcurly and distant from the rest of our People a full days journey.  We were removed hither from another Town nearer to the City where

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