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
[Sparing in his Dyet.] He is temperate both in his Diet and his
Lust. Of the former, I am informed by those that have attended on his
Person in his Palace, that though he hath all sorts of Varieties the
Land affords brought to his Table, yet his chief fare is Herbs, and
ripe pleasant Fruits: and this but once a day. Whatsoever is brought
for him to eat or drink is covered with a white cloath, and whoever
brings it, hath a Mufler tyed about his mouth, lest he should breath
upon the Kings Food. [After what manner he Eats.] The Kings manner
of eating is thus. He sits upon a Stool before a small Table covered
with a white cloath, all alone. He eats on a green Plantane-Leaf laid
in a Gold Bason. There are twenty or thirty Dishes prepared for him,
which are brought into his Dining-Room. And which of these Dishes
the King pleases to call for, a Nobleman appointed for that service,
takes a Portion of and reaches in a Ladle to the Kings Bason. This
person also waits with a mufler about his mouth.
[Chast himself, and requires his Attendants to be so.] And as he is
abstemious in his eating, so in the use of women. If he useth them
'tis unknown and with great secrecy. He hath not had the Company of
his Queen this twenty years, to wit, since he went from Candy, where
he left her. He allowes not in his Court Whoredom or Adultery; and many
times when he hears of the misdemeanors of some of his Nobles in regard
of women, He not only Executes them, but severely punisheth the women,
if known: and he hath so many Spyes, that there is but little done,
which he knows not of. And often he gives Command to expel all the
women out of the City, not one to remain. But by little and little
when they think his wrath is appeas'd, they do creep in again. But
no women of any Quality dare presume, and if they would, they cannot,
the Watches having charge given them not to let them pass. Some have
been taken concealed under mans Apparel, and what became of them
all may judg, for they never went home again. Rebellion does not
more displease this King, then for his Nobles to have to do with
women. Therefore when any are admitted to his Court to wait upon
him, they are not permitted to enjoy the Company of their Wives,
no more then any other women. Neither hath he suffered any for near
this twenty years to have their Wives in the City, except Slaves or
inferior servants.
[He committed incest, but such as was allowable.] Indeed he was once
guilty of an Act, that seemed to argue him a man of most unbridled
Lust. For he had a Daughter that was with Child by himself: but
in Childbed both dyed. But this manner of Incest is allowable in
Kings, if it be only to beget a right Royal Issue, which can only be
gotten that way. But in all other 'tis held abominable, and severely
punished. And here they have a common and usual Proverb, None can
reproach the King nor the Beggar. The one being so high, that none
dare; the other so low that nothing can shame or reproach them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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