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
[Is incouraged to buy a piece of Land.] Altho I had been now some seven
or eight years in this Land, and by this time came to know pretty well
the Customs and Constitutions of the Nation, yet I would not trust
my own knowledge, but to prevent the worst, I went to the Governor of
that same Countrey where the Land lay, to desire his advice, whether
or no I might lawfully buy that small piece of Land. He inquired,
Whose and what Land it was, I informed him, That it had been formerly
dedicated to a Priest, and he at his death had left it to his Grandson:
who for want was forced to sell it. Understanding this, the Governor
approved of the business, and encouraged me to buy it: saying, That
such kind of Lands only were lawful here to be bought and sold,
and that this was not in the least litigious.
[The Situation and condition of it.] Having gotten both his consent and
advice, I went on chearfully with my purchase. The place also liked me
wondrous well; it being a point of Land, standing into a Corn Field,
so that Corn Fields were on three sides of it, and just before my Door
a little Corn ground belonging thereto, and very well watered. In
the Ground besides eight Coker-nut Trees, there were all sorts of
Fruit Trees the Countrey afforded. But it had been so long desolate,
that it was all overgrown with Bushes, and no sign of a House therein.
[Buys it.] The price of this Land was five and twenty Larees, that is
five Dollars, a great Sum of Money in the account of this Countrey;
yet thanks be to God, who had so far inabled me after my late and
great loss, that I was strong enough to lay this down. The terms of
Purchase being concluded on between us, a Writing was made upon a leaf
after that Countrey manner, witnessed by seven or eight Men of the
best Quality in the Town: which was delivered to me, and I paid the
Money, and then took Possession of the Land. It lyes some ten Miles
to the Southward of the City of Cande in the County of Oudaneur,
in the Town of Elledat.
[Builds an House on it.] Now I went about Building an House upon my
Land, and was assisted by three of my Countreymen that dwelt near
by, Roger Gold, Ralph Knight, and Stephen Rutland, and in short time
we finished it. The Countrey People were all well pleased to see us
thus busie our selves about buying of Land and Building of Houses,
thinking it would ty our Minds the faster to their Countrey, and make
us think the less upon our own.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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