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 — John Shaqi
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 Province of Ouvah.] This City stands in the Kingdom or Province
of Ouvah, which is a Countrey well watered, the Land not smooth,
neither the Hills very high, wood very scarce, but what they plant
about their Houses. But great plenty of Cattle, their Land void of
wood being the more apt for grazing. If these Cattle be carried to
any other Parts in this Island they will commonly dye, the reason
whereof no man can tell, onely they conjecture it is occasioned by a
kind of small Tree or Shrub, that grows in all Countreys but in Ouvah,
the Touch or Scent of which may be Poyson to the Ouvah Cattel; though
it is not so to other. The Tree hath a pretty Physical smell like an
Apothecaries Shop, but no sort of Cattle will eat it. In this Cuontry
grows the best Tobacco that is on this Land. Rice is more plenty here
then most other things.
[Digligy, the place of the Kings constant Residence.] The fifth
City Digligy-neur towards the East of Cande, lying in the Country of
Hevahatt. Where the King ever since he was routed from Nellemby in
the Rebellion Anno 1664. hath held his Court. The scituation of this
place is very Rocky and Mountainous, the Lands Barren; So that hardly
a worse place could be found out in the whole Island. Yet the King
chose it, partly because it lyes about the middle of his Kingdom, but
chiefly for his safety; having the great Mountain [Gauluda.] Gauluda
behind his Palace, unto which he fled for Safety in the Rebellion,
being not only high, but on the top of it lye three Towns, and Corn
Fields, whence he may have necessary supplies: and it is so fenced
with steep Cliffs, Rocks and Woods, that a few men here will be able
to defend themselves against a great Army.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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