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
[The Method they used to prevent his suspicion of them.] So we went
forward, and were forced to enquire and ask the way to his house,
having never been so far this way before. I brought from home with
me Knives with fine carved handles, and a red Tunis Cap purposely
to sell or give him, if occasion required, knowing before, that we
must pass by him. And all along as we went, that we might be the
less suspected, we sold Caps and other Ware, to be paid for at our
return homewards. There were many cross Paths to and fro to his
house, yet by Gods Providence we happened in the right Road. And
having reached his house, according to the Countrey manner we went
and sate down in the open house; which kind of Houses are built on
purpose for the reception of Strangers. Whither not long after the
Great Man himself came and sate down by us. To whom we presented
a small parcel of Tobacco, and some Betel. And before he asked us
the cause of our coming, we shewed him the Ware we brought for him,
and the Cotton Yarn which we had trucked about the Country; telling
him withall how the case stood with us: viz. That we had a Charge
greater than the Kings allowance would maintain; and that because
dryed Flesh was the chief Commodity of that Part, we told him, That
missing of the Lading which we used to carry back, we were glad to
come thither to see, if we could make it up with dryed Flesh. And
therefore if he would please to supply us either for such Ware as
we had brought, or else for our Money, it would he a great favour,
the which would oblige us for the future to bring him any necessaries
that he should name unto us, when we should come again unto those
Parts, as we used to do very often: and that we could furnish him,
having dealings and being acquainted with the best Artificers in Cande.
At which he replyed, That he was sorry we were come at such a dry
time, wherein they could not catch Deer, but if some Rain fell,
he would soon dispatch us with our Ladings of Flesh. But however,
he bade us go about the Towns, and see whether there might be any
or no, tho he thought there was none. This answer of his pleased us
wondrous well, both because by this we saw he suspected us not, and
because he told us there was no dryed Flesh to be got. For it was
one of our greatest fears that we should get our Lading too soon:
for then, we could not have had an excuse to go further. And as yet
we could not possibly fly: having still six miles further to the
Northward to go before we could attempt it, that is, to Anarodgburro.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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