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
painted of divers colours, and towards the lower end set round about
with such stones, as he hath, and pleaseth, with a head of Gold.
[His Queen, and Children.] His right and lawful Queen, who was a
Malabar, brought from the Coast, is still living, but hath not been
with him, as is known, this Twenty years, remaining in the City of
Cande, where he left her; She wants indeed neither maintenance nor
attendance, but never comes out of the Palace. Several Noble-mens
Daughters hold Land for this Service, viz. to come to her Court in
their turns to wait upon her Majesty. She bare him a Prince, but what
became of him, shall hereafter be shewn. He had also a Daughter by
Her, she came also in her Youth to a piteous and unfortunate death,
as I shall relate in its place.
[His Palace, Situation and Description of it.] He keeps his Court
at Digligy nour, whither he fled in a Rebellion against him. His
Palace stands adjoyning to a great Hill, which was before mentioned;
near unto that part of the Hill next abutting upon his Court none
dares presume to set his foot: that being for his safeguard to fly
unto in time of need. The Palace is walled about with a Clay Wall,
and Thatched, to prevent the Claye's being melted by the Rains, which
are great and violent: Within this Wall it is all full of houses;
most of which are low and thatched; but some are two Stories high, and
tyled very handsomely, with open Galleries for Air, rayled about with
turned Banisters, one Ebony, and one painted, but not much Prospect,
standing between two Hills. And indeed the King lives there not so
much for pleasure as security. The Palace it self hath many large and
stately Gates two leaved; these Gates, with their Posts excellently
carved; the Iron work thereunto belonging, as Bolts and Locks, all
rarely engraven. The Windows inlayd with Silver Plates and Ebony. On
the top of the houses of his Palace and Treasury, stand Earthen Pots
at each corner; which are for ornament; or which is a newer fashion,
something made of Earth resembling Flowers and Branches. And no
Houses besides, except Temples, may have these placed upon them. The
contrivance of his Palace is, as I may say, like Woodstock Bower,
with many turnings and windings, and doors, he himself having ordered
and contrived all these Buildings, and the manner of them. At all the
Doors and Passages stand Watches: and they who thus give attendance
are not to pass without special Order from one place to another,
but are to remain in that place or at that Gate, where the King hath
appointed them. By means of these contrivances it is not easie to know
in what part or place his Person is, neither doth he care they should.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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