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.

[His attendants.] Most of his Attendants are Boyes, and Young Men, that are well favoured, and of good Parentage.  For the supplying himself with these, he gives order to his Dissava’s or Governors of the Countreys to pick and choose out Boyes, that are comely and of good Descent, and send them to the Court.  These Boyes go bare-headed with long hair hanging down their backs.  Not that he is guilty of Sodomy nor did I ever hear the Sin so much as mentioned among them.

[Handsom women belong to his Kitchin.] He hath many Women belonging to his Kitchin, choosing to have his Meat dressed by them.  Several times he hath sent into the Countreys a Command to gather handsome young Women of the Chingulayes to recruit his Kitchin, with no exceptions whether married or unmarried and those that are chosen for that Service never return back again.  Once since my being on the Land, all the Portuguez Women that were young and white were sent for to the Court, no matter whether Maids or Wives; where some remained until now, and some that were not amiable in his sight were sent home; and some having purchased his displeasure were cast into a River, which is his manner of executing Women.  And some sent Prisoners in the Countrey, being none admitted to speech or fight of them.

[His Women, and the Priviledg of the Towns where they live.] Concubines he keepeth not many.  Some are within his Palace.  And those whose Office is about his Kitchin are reported to be so, which is not improbable, seeing he admits none but them that are young and very handsom to the imployment.  Other of his women dwell in Towns near to the City.  Into which no Stranger is permitted to go, nay it is dangerous to approach near.  These Towns have this Priviledg, that if any Slave flee from his Master and come hither, he is safe and free from his Masters service, but still remains a Slave there to them.

[His State when he walks in his Palace; or goes abroad.] Sometimes he walketh about his Palace, where there are certain Pedestalls of Stone, whitened with Lime and laid in Oyl, so that they look purely white, made and set up in divers places, here he stands when he comes forth, that he might be above the rest of the People, and see about him.  But when he is minded to go abroad, though it be never so little a way, and he seldom or never goes far, Order is given some time before, for all Soldiers of his Guards which are a great many, it may be Thousands, together with a Dutch and Portugal Captain with their Flags and Soldiers, Drummers, Trumpeters, Fifers, Singers, and all belonging, as Elephants, Horses, Falkeners with their Faulkons and many others, to stand at the Gate in a readiness to attend his pleasure.  And tho he means not to come forth, yet they must wait in this manner, until he give order, that they may depart to their houses.  Commonly all this assembly are gathered together at the Palace three or four times before he comes out once.  And oftentimes he comes

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