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
[Sent to Manaar. Received by the Captain of the Castle.] At Manaar
we were brought before the Captain of the Castle, the Cheif Governor
being absent. Who when we came in was just risen from Dinner; he
received us with a great deal of kindness and bad us set down to
eat. It seemed not a little strange to us, who had dwelt so long
in Straw Cottages among the Black Heathen, and used to sit on the
Ground and eat our Meat on Leaves, now to sit on Chairs and eat
out of China Dishes at a Table. Where were great Varieties, and a
fair and sumptuous House inhabited by White and Christian People;
we being then in such Habit and Guize, our Natural colour excepted,
that we seemed not fit to eat with his Servants, no nor his Slaves.
[Who intended them to Sail the next day to Jafnapatan.] After Dinner
the Captain inquired concerning the Affairs of the King and Countrey,
and the condition of their Ambassadors and People there. To all which
we gave them true and satisfactory Answers. Then he told us, That to
Morrow there was a Sloop to sail to Jafnapatan, in which he would send
us to the Commander or Governor, from whence we might have passage
to Fort St. George, or any other place on that Coast, according to
our desire. After this, he gave us some Money, bidding us go to the
Castle, to drink and be merry with our Country-men there. For all
which kindness giving him many thanks in the Portuguese Language,
we took our leaves of him.
[Here they meet with a Scotch and Irish man.] When we came to the
Court of Guard at the Castle, we asked the Soldiers if there were
no English men among them. Immediatly there came forth two men to
us, the one a Scotchman named Andrew Brown; the other an Irishman
whose name was Francis Hodges. Who after very kind salutes carried
us unto their Lodgings in the Castle, and entertained us very nobly,
according to their Ability, with Rack and Tobacco.
[The People flock to see them.] The News of our Arrival being spread in
the Town, the People came flocking to see us, a strange and wonderful
sight! and to enquire about their Husbands, Sons, and Relations,
which were Prisoners in Cande.
In the Evening a Gentleman of the Town sent to invite us to his House,
were we were gallantly entertained both with Victuals and Lodging.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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