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
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.
[The Probable season of our Surprize.] I impute the main reason of
our Surprize to our Neglect, viz. in not sending a Letter and Present
to the King at our first coming. Who looking upon himself as a great
Monarch, as he is indeed, requires to be treated with sutable State.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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