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
How this Island lyes with respect unto me Neighbouring Countries,
I shall not speak at all, that being to be seen in our ordinary
Sea-Cards, which describe those Parts; and but little concerning
the Maritime parts of it, now under the Jurisdiction of the Dutch:
my design being to relate such things onely that are new and unknown
unto these Europæan Nations. It is the Inland Countrey therefore I
chiefly intend to write of which is yet an hidden Land even to the
Dutch themselves that inhabit upon the Island. For I have seen among
them a fair large Map of this Place, the best I believe extant, yet
very faulty: the ordinary Maps in use among us are much more so; I have
procured a new one to be drawn, with as much truth and exactness as I
could, and his Judgment will not be deemed altogether inconsiderable,
who had for Twenty Years Travelled about the Iland, and knew almost
every step of those Parts, especially, that most want describing.
I begin with the Sea-Coasts. Of all which the Hollander is Master:
On the North end the chief places are Jafnipatan, and the Iland of
Manaur. On the East side Trenkimalay, and Batticalow. To the South
is the City of Point de Galle. On the West the City of Columbo,
so called from a Tree the Natives call Ambo, (which bears the
Mango-fruit) growing in that place; but this never bare fruit,
but onely leaves, which in their Language is Cola> and thence they
called the Tree Colambo: which the Christians in honour of Columbus
turned to Columbo. It is the chief City on the Sea-coasts where the
chief Governour hath his residence. On this side also is Negumba, and
Colpentine. All these already mentioned are strong fortified places:
There are besides many other smaller Forts and Fortifications. All
which, with considerable Territories, to wit, all round bordering
upon the Sea-coasts, belong to the Dutch Nation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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