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
[What Satisfaction one of them received from a Potter.] Some of our
English men have proceeded further yet. One for example went to buy
Pots of a Potter. Who because he would not let him have them at his
own price fell to quarrel, in which the English man met with some
blows. Which he complained of to the Magistrate as being a Person
that belonged unto the King, and therefore claimed better usage. And
the Magistrate condemned the Potter as guilty in lifting up his hand
against him, and sent some of his Soldiers to bind him, and then
bad the English man go and content himself by paying him in the same
Coin again, as he had served our Countreyman; which he did until he
was satisfied, and moreover, ordered him to take the Pots he came
to buy and pay nothing. But the Law was not so satisfied neither,
for the Soldiers laid on many blows besides.
[A scuffle between the English and Natives.] Another time at a certain
Feast, as they were drinking and wanting Wine, they sent Money to buy
more; but the Seller refused to give it them for their Money. Which
they took so hainously, that they unanimously concluded to go and take
it by force. Away they went each man with his Staff in his hand, and
entred the House and began to Drink; which the People not liking of,
gathered their Forces together, and by blows began to resist them. But
the English men bravely behaved themselves, and broke several of
their Pates. Who with the Blood about their Ears went to the City to
complain to the great Men. They demanded of them, If they had ever sold
them Wine before. They answered, Yes. They asked them again, Why then
did they refuse to sell them now? And that they were well served by
the English for denying them drink for their Money: and so sent them
away laughing at them. Our Men got two or three black and blew Blows,
but they came home with their Bellies full of Drink for their pains.
[The Author after a year sees his Countreymen.] But to return unto my
self. It was a full year after my Father died, before I had sight of
any of my Countreymen and Fellow Prisoners. Then John Gregory with much
ado obtained leave to come and see me: which did exceedingly rejoyce
me. For a great Satisfaction it was, both to see a Countreyman, and
also to hear of the welfare of the rest. But he could not be permitted
to stay with me above one day. Until then, I knew not punctually where
the rest of my Countreymen were, but having heard that they were within
a days Journey of me, I never ceased importuning the People of the
Town where I dwelt, to let me go and see them. Which tho very loath,
yet at last they granted. Being arrived at the nearest English man's
House, I was joyfully received, and the next day he went and called
some of the rest of our Countreymen that were near. So that there
were some seven or eight of us met together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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