An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous EscapeKnox, Robert
History
An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape
Knox, Robert
Sri Lanka -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Sri Lanka -- Social life and customs
We were then some twelve Miles from the Sea-side. Our reply was, That
the Captain could not leave his Ship to come so far, but if he pleased
to come down to the Sea-side himself, the Captain would immediately
wait upon him to receive the Letter. Upon which the Dissauva desired
us to stay that day, and on the morrow he would go down with us.
Which being a small request, and we unwilling to displease him,
consented to.
[The beginning of their Suspition.] The same day at Evening, the
Dissauva sent two of his chief Captains to the House where we lay
to tell us, That he was sending a Present to the Captain, and if we
pleased we might send a Letter to him; that he would send the Present
in the Night, and himself with us follow the next Morning. At which
we began to suspect, and accordingly concluded to write and advise
the Captain not to adventure himself, nor any other on shore till he
saw us. We having writ a Letter to this purpose they took it and went
away, but never delivered it.
[The Captain seized, and seven more.] The next Morning the Present,
which was Cattle, Fruit, &c. was brought to the Sea-side, and delivered
to the Captain; the Messengers telling him withal, that we were upon
the way coming down, with the Dissauva; who desired his Company on
shore against his coming, having a Letter from the King to deliver into
his own hand. Hereupon the Captain mistrusting nothing, came up with
his Boat into a small River, and being come ashore, sat down under
a Tamarind Tree, waiting for the Dissauva and us. In which time the
Native Soldiers privately surrounded him and Men, having no Arms with
them; and so he was seized on and seven men with him, yet without any
violence or plundering them of any thing: and then they brought them
up unto us, carrying the Captain in a Hammock upon their Shoulders.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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