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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.



Illustrated with Figures, and a Map of the ISLAND.

By ROBERT KNOX, a Captive there near Twenty Years.



LONDON,

Printed by Richard Chiswell, Printer to the ROYAL SOCIETY, at the
Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1681.






At the Court of Committees for the East-India Company the 10th of
August, 1681.

We Esteem Captain Knox a Man of Truth and Integrity, and that his
Relations and Accounts of the Island of Ceylon (which some of us have
lately Perused in Manuscripts) are worthy of Credit, and therefore
encouraged him to make the same Publick.

Robert Blackbourne, Secretary.
By Order of the said Court.

August 8. 1681.



Mr. Chiswell,

I Perused Capt. Knox's Description of the Isle of Ceylon, which seems
to be Written with great Truth and Integrity; and the Subject being
new, containing an Account of a People and Countrey little known
to us; I conceive it may give great Satisfaction to the Curious,
and may be well worth your Publishing.

Chr. Wren.




TO THE

Right Worshipful

The GOVERNOR, the DEPUTY GOVERNOR, and Four and Twenty Committees of
the Honorable the EAST-INDIA Company, Viz.

Sir Josiah Child Baronet, Governor.
Thomas Papilion Esq; Deputy.

The Right Honorable George Earl of Berkley,
Sir Joseph Ashe Baronet,
Sir Samuel Barnardiston Baronet,
Mr. Christopher Boone,
Mr. Thomas Canham,
Colonel John Clerke,
Mr. John Cudworth,
John Dubois Esquire,
Sir James Edwards Knight, and Alderman,
Richard Hutchinson Esquire,
Mr. Joseph Herne,
Mr. William Hedges,
Sir John Lawrence Knight, and Alderman,
Mr. Nathaniel Letton,
Sir John Moore Knight, and Alderman,
Samuel Moyer Esquire,
Mr. John Morden,
Mr. John Paige,
Edward Rudge Esquire,
Mr. Jeremy Sambrooke,
Mr. William Sedgwick,
Robert Thomson Esquire,
Samuel Thomson Esquire,
James Ward Esquire.


Right Worshipful,

What I formerly Presented you in Writing, having in pursuance of your
Commands now somewhat dressd by the help of the Printer and Graver,
I a second time humbly tender to you. 'Tis I confess at best too mean
a Return for your great Kindness to me. Yet I hope you will not deny
it a favourable Acceptance, since 'tis the whole Return I made from
the Indies after Twenty years stay there; having brought home nothing
else but

(who is also wholly at your Service and Command)

London 1st. of August, 1681.

ROBERT KNOX.




THE PREFACE.


How much of the present Knowledge of the Parts of the World is owing
to late Discoveries, may be judged by comparing the Modern with the
Ancient's Accounts thereof; though possibly many such Histories may
have been written in former Ages, yet few have scaped the Injury of
Time, so as to be handed safe to us. 'Twas many Ages possibly before
Writing was known, then known to a few, and made use of by fewer,
and fewest employed it to this purpose. Add to this, that such as
were written, remain'd for the most part Imprison'd in the Cells of
some Library or Study, accessible to a small number of Mankind, and
regarded by a less, which after perished with the Place or the Decay
of their own Substance. This we may judge from the loss of those many
Writings mentioned by Pliny and other of the Ancients. And we had yet
found fewer, if the Art of Printing, first Invented about 240 years
since, had not secured most that lasted to that time. Since which,
that Loss has been repaired by a vast number of new Accessions, which
besides the Satisfaction they have given to Curious and Inquisitive
Men by increasing their Knowledge, have excited many more to the
like Attempts, not only of Making but of Publishing also their
Discoveries. But I am not ignorant still; that as Discoveries have
been this way preserved, so many others nave been lost, to the great
Detriment of the Publick. It were very desirable therefore that the
Causes of these and other Defects being known, some Remedies might
be found to prevent the like Losses for the future. The principal
Causes I conceive may be these;

First, The want of sufficient Instructions (to Seamen and Travellers,)
to shew them what is pertinent and considerable, to be observ'd in
their Voyages and Abodes, and how to make their Observations and keep
Registers or Accounts of them.

Next, The want of some Publick Incouragement for such as shall perform
such Instructions.

Thirdly, The want of fit Persons both to Promote and Disperse such
Instructions to Persons fitted to engage, and careful to Collect
Returns; and Compose them into Histories; by examining the Persons
more at large upon those and other Particulars. And by separating what
is pertinent from what is not so, and to be Rejected; who should have
also wherewith to gratifie every one according to his Performances.

Fourthly, The want of some easie Way to have all such Printed: First
singly, and afterwards divers of them together. It having been found
that many small Tracts are lost after Printing, as well as many
that are never Printed; upon which account we are much oblig'd to
Mr. Haclute and Mr. Purchas, for preserving many such in their Works.

Fifthly, The want of taking care to Collect all such Relations of
Voyages and Accounts of Countries as have been Published in other
Languages; and Translating them either into English, or (which will be
of more general use) into Latin, the learned Language of Europe. There
being many such in other Countries hardly ever heard of in England.

The Difficulties of removing which Defects is not so great but that
it might easily fall even within the compass of a private Ability
to remove, if at least Publick Authority Would but Countenance the
Design, how much less then would it be if the same would afford also
some moderate Encouragement and Reward?

The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, has
not been wanting in preparing and dispersing Instructions to this
end, and is ready still to promote it, if the Publick would allow
a Recompence to the Undertakers. The desirableness and facility of
this Undertaking may, I hope, in a short time produce the Expedients
also. In the Interim all means should be used, to try what may be
obtain'd from the Generosity of such as have had the Opportunities
of knowing Foreign Countries.

There are but few who, though they know much, can yet be persuaded
they know any thing worth Communicating, and because the things are
common and well known to them, are apt to think them so to the rest of
Mankind; This Prejudice has done much mischief in this particular as
well as in many other, and must be first remov'd. There are others
that are conscious enough of their own Knowledge, and yet either
for want of Ability to write well, or of use to Compose, or of time
to Study and Digest, or out of Modesty and fear to be in Print, or
because they think they know not enough to make a Volume, or for not
being prompted to, or earnestly solicited for it, neglect to do it;
others delay to do it so long till they have forgotten what they
intended. Such as these Importunity would prevail upon to disclose
their knowledge, if fitting Persons were found to Discourse and ask
them Questions, and to Compile the Answers into a History. Of this
kind was lately produc'd in High Dutch a History of Greenland, by
Dr. Fogelius of Hamborough, from the Information of Frederick Martin,
who had made several Voyages to that Place, in the doing of which,
he made use of the Instruction given by the Royal Society.

'Tis much to be wondred that we should to this Day want a good
History of most of our West-Indian Plantations. Ligon has done well
for the Barbadoes, and somewhat has been done for the Summer Islands,
Virginia, &c. But how far are all these short even of the knowledge
of these and other Places of the West-Indies, which may be obtain'd
from divers knowing Planters now Residing in London? And how easie
were it to obtain what is Defective from some Ingenious Persons now
Resident upon the Places, if some way were found to gratifie them
for their Performances? However till such be found, 'tis to be hoped
that the kind Acceptance only the Publick shall give to this present
Work, may excite several other Ingenuous, and knowing Men to follow
this Generous Example of Captain Knox who though he could bring away
nothing almost upon his Back or in his Purse, did yet Transport the
whole Kingdom of Cande Uda in his Head, and by Writing and Publishing
this his Knowledge, has freely given it to his Countrey, and to You
Reader in, particular.

'Twas not I confess without the earnest Solicitations and Endeavours
of my self, and some others of his Friends obtain'd from him, but
this uneasiness of parting with it was not for want of Generosity and
Freedom enough in Communicating whatever he knew or had observed, but
from that usual Prejudice of Modesty, and too mean an Opinion of his
own Knowledge and Abilities of doing any thing should be worthy the
view of the Publick. And had he found leisure to Compose it, he could
have filled a much greater Volume with useful and pertinent, as well
as unusual and strange Observations. He could have inrich't it with a
more particular Description of many of their curious Plants, Fruits,
Birds, Fishes, Insects, Minerals, Stones; and told you many more of the
Medicinal and other uses of them in Trades and Manufactures. He could
have given you a compleat Dictionary of their Language, understanding
and speaking it as well as his Mother Tongue. But his Occasions would
not permit him to do more at present. Yet the Civil Usage this his
First-born meets with among his Countreymen, may 'tis hoped oblige
him to gratifie them with further Discoveries and Observations in
his future Travels.

To conclude, He has in this History given you a tast of his
Observations. In which most Readers, though of very differing Gusts,
may find somewhat very pleasant to their Pallat. The Statesman,
Divine, Physitian, Lawyet, Merchant, Mechanick, Husbandman, may select
something for their Entertainment. The Philosopher and Historian much
more. I believe at least all that love Truth will be pleas'd; for from
that little Conversation I had with him I conceive him to be no ways
prejudiced of byassed by Interest, affection, or hatred, fear or hopes,
or the vain-glory of telling Strange Things, so as to make him swarve
from the truth of Matter of Fact: And for his opportunity of being
informed, any one may satisfie himself when he understands his almost
20 years Abode and Converse among them. His Skill in the Language and
Customs of the People, his way of Employment in Travelling and Trading
over all Parts of the Kingdom; add to this his Breeding till 19 years
of Age under his Father a Captain for the East-India Company, and his
own Natural and acquired parts; but above all his good Reputation,
which may be judged from the Employment That Worshipful Company have
now freely bestowed upon him, having made him Commander of the Tarquin
Merchant, and intruded him to undertake a Voyage to Tarquin.

Read therefore the Book it self, and you will find your self taken
Captive indeed, but used more kindly by the Author, than he himself
was by the Natives.

After a general view of the Sea Coasts, he will lead you into the
Country by the Watches, through the Thorney Gates, then Conduct
you round upon the Mountains that Encompass and Fortifie the whole
Kingdom, and by the way carry you to the top of Hommalet or Adam's
Peak; from those he will descend with you, and shew you their chief
Cities and Towns, and pass through them into the Countrey, and there
acquaint you with their Husbandry, then entertain you with the Fruits,
Flowers, Herbs, Roots, Plants and Trees, and by the way shelter you
from Sun and Rain, with a Fan made of the Talipat-Leaf. Then shew you
their Beasts, Birds, Fish, Serpents, Insects; and last of all, their
Commodities. From hence he will carry you to Court, and shew you the
King in the several Estates of his Life; and acquaint you with his
way of Governing, Revenues, Treasures, Officers, Governors, Military
Strength, Wars: and by the way entertain you with an account of the
late Rebellion against him. After which he will bring you acquainted
with the Inhabitants themselves, whence you may know their different
Humours, Ranks and Qualities. Then you may visit their Temples such
as they are, and see the Foppery of their Priests Religious Opinions
and Practices both in their Worship and Festivals, and afterwards
go home to their Houses and be acquainted with their Conversation
and Entertainment, see their Housewifery, Furniture, Finery, and
understand how they Breed and Dispose of their Children in Marriage;
and in what Employments and Recreations they pass their time. Then
you may acquaint your self with their Language, Learning, Laws,
and if you please with their Magick & Jugling. And last of all with
their Diseases, Sickness, Death, and manner of Burial. After which
he will give you a full account of the Reason of his own Going to,
and Detainment in the Island of Ceylon, and Kingdom of Conde-Uda. And
of all his various Conditions, and the Accidents that befel him there
during Nineteen years and an halfs abode among them. And by what ways
and means at last he made his Escape and Returned safe into England
in September last, 1680.

Aug. 1. 1681.

Robert Hooke.





To the Right Worshipful Sir William Thomson Knight, Governor, Thomas
Papillon Esquire; Deputy, and the 24 Committees of the Honorable
EAST-INDIA Company hereunder Specified, Viz.

The Right Honorable George Earl of Berkley,
The Right Honorable James Lord Chandois.
Sir Matthew Andrews Knight,
Sir John Bancks Baronet,
Sir Samuel Barnardiston Baronet,
Mr. Christopher Boone,
John Bathurst Esquire,
Sir Josia Child Baronet,
Mr. Thomas Canham,
Collonel John Clerk,
Sir James Edwards Knight,
Mr. Joseph Herne,
Richard Hutchinson Esquire,
James Hublon Esquire,
Sir John Lethieullier Knight,
Mr. Nathaniel Petton,
Sir John Moor Knight,
Samuel Moyer Esquire,
Mr. John Morden,
Mr. John Paige,
Edward Rudge Esquire,
Daniel Sheldon Esquire,
Mr. Jeremy Sambrook,
Robert Thomson Esquire.


Right Worshipful,

Since my return home to my Native Countrey of England, after a long and
Disconsolate Captivity, my Friends and Acquaintance in our Converse
together have been Inquisitive into the State of that Land in which
I was Captivated; whose Curiosity I indeavour to satisfie. But my
Relations and Accounts of Things in those Parts were so strange
and uncouth, and so different from those in these Western Nations,
and withal my Discourses seeming so Delightful and Acceptable unto
them, they very frequently called upon me to write what I knew of
that Island of Ceilon, and to digest it into a Discourse, and make
it more Publick; unto which motion I was not much unwilling, partly
that I might comply with the Desires and Councels of my Friends,
and chiefly that I might Publish and Declare the great Mercy of God
to me, and Commemorate before all Men my singular Deliverance out of
that Strange and Pagan Land, which as often as I think of or mention,
I cannot but admire and adore the goodness of God towards me, there
being in it so many notable Footsteps of his signal Providence.

I had then by me several Papers, which during my Voyage homeward from
Bantam at leisure times I writ concerning the King and the Countrey,
and concerning the English there, and of my Escape; which Papers I
forthwith set my self to Peruse and draw into a Method, and to add
what more might occur to my Thoughts of those Matters, which at length
I have finished, contriving what I had to relate under four Heads. The
first concerning the Countrey and Products of it. The second concerning
the King and his Government. The third concerning the Inhabitants,
and their Religion and Customs, and the last concerning our Surprize,
Detainment and Escape; In all which I take leave to Declare, That I
have writ nothing but either what I am assured of by my own personal
Knowledge to be true, and wherein I have born a great and a sad share,
or what I have received from the Inhabitants themselves of such things
as are commonly known to be true among them. The Book, being thus
perfected, it required no long Meditation unto whom to present it, it
could be to none but your selves (my Honoured Masters) by whose Wisdom
and Success the East-Indian Parts of the World are now near as well
known, as the Countries next adjacent to us. So that by your means,
not only the Wealth, but the Knowledge of those Indies is brought home
to us. Unto your Favour and Patronage therefore (Right Worshipful)
I humbly presume to recommend these Papers and the Author of them,
who rejoyceth at this opportunity to acknowledge the Favours you
have already conferred on him, and to profess that next unto God,
on you depend his Future Hopes and Expectations; being

Right Worshipful,

Your most obliged and most humble and devoted Servant to be Commanded,

Robert Knox.

Lond. 18th. March, 1680/81.





The CONTENTS.

PART I.

CHAP. I.

A General Description of the Island.

The Inland Parts of it hitherto unknown. The chief Places on
the Sea-Coasts. The Names of the Provinces and Counties of the
Inland Country. Which are divided from each other by Woods. The
Countrey Hilly, but inriched with Rivers. The great River
Mavelagonga described. Woody. Where most Populous and Healthful.
The nature of the Vallies. The great Hill, Adams Peaky,
described. The natural Strength of this Kingdom. The difference
of the Seasons in this Country. What Parts have most Rain.


CHAP. II.

Concerning the chief Cities and Towns of this Island.

The most Eminent Cities are Five. Viz. Cande, Nellemby,
Alloutneur. The Country of Bintan described. Badoulf. The
Province of Ouvah. Digligy, the place of the King's
Residence. Gauluda. Many ruines of Cities. Anarodgburro. The
nature of the Northern Parts. The Port of Portaloon Affords
Salt. Leawava Affords Salt in abundance, Described. Their
Towns how built. Many ly in ruins and forsaken. and upon
what occasion.


CHAP III.

Of their Corn, with their manner of Husbandry.

The Products and Commodities of the Country. Corn of divers
sorts. Rice. Growes in water. Their ingenuity in watering
their Corn-lands. Why they do not always sow the best kind of
Rice? They sow at different times, but reap together. Their
artificial Pooles, Alligators harbor in them. They sow Corn on
the mud. A sort of Rice that growes without water. The Seasons
of Seed-time and Harvest. A particular description of their
Husbandry. Their Plow. The convenience of these Plowes. Their
First plowing. Their Banks, and use of them. Their Second
plowing. How they prepare their Seed-Corn. And their Land
after it is plowed. Their manner of Sowing. How they manure
& order Young Corn. Their manner of reaping. They tread out
their Corn with Cattel. The Ceremonies they use when the Corn
is to be trodden. How they unhusk their Rice. Other sorts of
Corn among them. Coracan, Tanna, Moung, Omb.


CHAP. IV.

Of their Fruits and Trees.

Great Variety of Fruits and delicious. The best Fruits where
ever they grow reserved for the Kings use. Betel-Nuts, The
Trees, The Fruit, The Leaves, The Skins, and their use. The
Wood. The Profit the Fruit yields. Jacks, another choyce
Fruit. Jambo another. Other Fruits found in the Woods. Fruits
common with other Parts of India. The Tallipot; the rare use of
the Leaf. The Pith good to eat. The Kettule. Yields a delicious
juice. The Skin bears strings as strong as Wyer. The Wood;
its Nature and Use. The Cinnamon Tree. The Bark, The Wood,
The Leaf, The Fruit. The Orula. The Fruit good for Physic and
Dying. Water made of it will brighten rusty Iron, and serve
instead of Ink. The Dounekaia. The Capita. Rattans. Their
Fruit. Canes. The Betel tree. The Bo-gauhah or God-Tree.


CHAP. V.

Of their Plants, Herbs, Flowers.

Roots for Food, The manner of their growing. Boyling Herbs,
Fruits for Sawce. European Herbs and Plants among them. Herbs
for Medicine. Their Flowers, A Flower that serves instead of
a Dyal, called Sindric-mal. Picha-mais, Hop-inals.

CHAP. VI.

Of their Beasts Tame and Wild. Insects.

What Beasts the Country produceth. Deer no bigger than
Hares. Other Creatures rare in their kind. The way how a
wild Deer was catched for the King. Of their Elephants. The
way of catching Elephants. Their understanding. Their
Nature. The dammage they do. Serve the King for executing
his Malefactors. Their Disease. The Sport they make. Ants
of divers sorts. How one sort of them, called Coddias,
came to sting so terribly. These Ants very mischievous. The
curious Buildings of the Vaeos, another kind of them. The
manner of their death. Bees of several kinds. Some build on
Trees like Birds. The people eat the Bees, as well as their
Honey. Leaches, that ly in the grass, and creep on Travaylers
Legs. The Remedies they use against them. Apes and Monkeys
of divers kinds. How they catch Wild Beasts. How they take
the Wild Boar.


CHAP. VII.

Of their Birds, Fish, Serpents, and Commodities.

Their Birds. Such as will be taught to speak. Such as are
beautiful for Colour. A strange Bird. Water-Fowls resembling
Ducks and Swans. Peacocks. The King keeps Fowl. Their Fish,
How they catch them in Ponds, And how in Rivers. Fish kept
and fed for the King's Pleasure. Serpents. The Pimberah of a
prodigious bigness. The Polonga. The Noya. The Fable of the
Noya ana Polonga. The Carowala. Gerendo. Hickanella. Democulo,
a great Spider. Kobbera-guson, a Creature like an
Aligator. Tolla-guion. The people eat Rats. Precoius Stones,
Minerals, and other Commodities. The People discouraged from
Industry by the Tyranny they are under.


PART II.

CHAP. I.

Of the present King of Cande.

The Government of this Island. The King's Lineage. His
Person, Meen and Habit. His Queen and Children. His
Palace; Situation and Description of it: Strong Guards
about his Court. Negro's Watch next his Person. Spies sent
out a Nights. His Attendants. Handsome Women belong to his
Kitchin. His Women. And the Privileges of the Towns, where
they live. His State, when he walks in his Palace, or goes
abroad. His reception of Ambassadors. His delight in them.


CHAP. II.

Concerning the Kings Manner, Vices, Recreation, Religion.

Spare in his Diet. After what manner he eats. Chast himself,
and requires his Attendants to be so. He committed Incest,
but such as was allowable. His Pride. How the People address
to the King. They give him Divine Worship. Pleased with high
Titles. An instance or two of the King's haughty Stomach. He
slights the defection of one of his best Generals. He scorns to
receive his own Revenues. The Dutch serve their ends upon his
Pride by flattering him. The People give the way to the Kings
foul Cloths. His natural Abilities, and deceitful temper. His
wife saying concerning Run-awayes. He is naturally Cruel. The
Dogs follow Prisoners to Execution. The Kings Prisoners; their
Misery. He punisheth whole Generations for the sake of one. The
sad condition of young Gentlemen that wait on his Person. His
Pleasure-houses. Pastimes abroad. His Diversions at home. His
Religion. He stands affected to the Christian Religion.


CHAP. III.

Of the King's Tyrannical Reign.

His Government Tyrannical. His Policy. He farms out
his Countrey for Service. His Policy to secure himself
against Assassinations and Rebellions. Another Point of his
Policy. Another which is to find his People work to do. A
Vast work undertaken and finished by the King, viz. Bringing
Water divers Miles thro Rocks, Mountains and Valleys unto
his Palace. The turning this Water did great injury to the
People. But he little regards his Peoples Good. By craft at
once both pleaseth and punisheth his People. In what Labours he
employs his People, He Poisons his only Son. The extraordinary
Lamentation at the Death of his Sister. His Craft and Cruelty
shewn at once.

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