Book: An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies

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[The natural strength of his Countrey.] He hath no Artificial
Forts or Castles, but Nature hath supplied the want of them. For
his whole Countrey of Cande Uda, standing upon such high Hills, and
those so difficult to pass, is all an Impregnable Fort: and so is
more especially Digligy-neur his present Palace. These Places have
been already described at large; and therefore I omit speaking any
further of them here.

[Watches and Thorn-gates.] There are constant Watches set in convenient
places in all parts of the Countrey, and Thorn-gates: but in time of
danger, besides the ordinary Watches, in all Towns, and in all places
and in every cross Road, exceeding thick, that 'tis not possible for
any to pass unobserved. These Thorn-gates which I here mention and
have done before, are made of a sort of Thorn-bush or Thorn-tree,
each stick or branch whereof thrusts out on all sides round about,
sharp prickles, like Iron Nails, of three or four inches long: one
of these very Thorns I have lately seen in the Repository at Gresham
College: These sticks or branches being as big as a good Cane, are
platted one very close to another, and so being fastned and tyed to
three or four upright spars, are made in the fashion of a Door. This
is hung upon a Door-case some ten or twelve foot high, (so that they
may, and do ride thro upon Elephants) made of three pieces of Timber
like a Gallows, after this manner the Thorn door hanging upon the
transverse piece like a Shop window; and so they lift it up, or clap
it down, as there is occasion: and tye it with a Rope to a cross Bar.

[None to pass from the Kings City without Pasports.] But especially
in all Roads and Passages from the City where the King now Inhabits,
are very strict Watches set: which will suffer none to pass not having
a Passport: which is the print of a Seal in clay: It is given at the
Court to them that have Licence to go thro the Watches. The Seals are
different, according to the Profession of the Party: as to a Soldier
the print of a man with a Pike on his Shoulder: to a Labourer, a
Man with two Bags hanging on each end of a Pole upon his Shoulder,
which is the manner they commonly carry their Loads. And to a white
man, the Passport is the print of a Man with a Sword by his side,
and a Hat on his head. And so many Men as there are in the Company,
so many prints there must be in the Clay. There is not half the
examination for those that come into the City, as for those that go
out, whom they usually search to see what they carry with them.

[Their Soldiery.] To speak now of their Soldiery, their Expeditions
and manner of Fight. Besides the Dissauvas, spoken of before, who
are great Generals, there are other great Captains. As those they
call Mote-Ralls; as much as to say, Scribes. Because they keep the
Rolls or Registers of certain Companies of Soldiers, each containing
970 Men, who are under their Command. Of these Mote-Ralls, there are
four principal. But besides these, there are smaller Commanders over
Soldiers; who have their Places from the King, and are not under the
Command of the former great ones.

[All Men of Arms wait at Court.] All these both Commanders and common
Soldiers must wait at the Court. But with this difference. The great
Men must do it continually: each one having his particular Watch
appointed by the King. But the private Soldiers take their turns of
Watching. And when they go, they do carry all their Provisions for the
time of their stay with them upon their Backs. These Soldiers are not
listed, (listing Soldiers being only upon extraordinary occasions) but
are by Succession the Son after the Father. [The Soldiers have Lands
allotted them instead of Pay.] For which Service they injoy certain
Lands and Inheritances, which is instead of Wages or Pay. This duty
if they omit or neglect they loose or forfeit their Inheritance. Or
if they please to be released or discharged, they may, parting with
their Land. And then their Commander placeth another in their room;
but so long as the Land lies void, he converts the Profits to his own
proper use. And he that after takes it, gives a Bribe to the Commander,
who yet notwithstanding will not permit him to hold it above two or
three years, unless he renew his Bribes.

[To prevent the Soldiers from Plotting.] The Soldiers of the High
Lands called Cande Uda, are dispersed all over the Land; so that one
scarcely knows the other, the King not suffering many Neighbours and
Townsmen to be in one Company; which hath always heretofore been so
ordered for fear of Conspiracies.

[The manner of sending them out on Expeditions.] When the King sends
any of these Commanders with their Armies abroad to War or otherwise,
sometimes they see not his face, but he sends out their Orders to them
by a Messenger; sometimes admits them into his Presence, and gives
them their Orders with his own mouth, but nothing in Writing. And when
several of them are sent together upon any Design, there is not any
one appointed to be Chief Commander or General over the whole Army;
but each one as being Chief over his own Men, disposeth and ordereth
them according to his pleasure; the others do the like. Which sometimes
begets disagreement among themselves, and by that means their Designs
are frustrated. Neither doth he like or approve, that the great
Commanders of his Soldiers should be very intimate or good Friends,
lest they should conspire against him, nor will he allow them to
disagree in such a degree that it be publickly known and observed.

[The King requires all the Captains singly to send him intelligence
of their Affairs.] And when there is any tidings to send the King,
they do not send in general together by consent, but each one sends
particularly by himself. And there common custom and practice is to
inform what they can one against another, thinking thereby to obtain
the most favour and good will from the King. By this means there can
nothing, be done or said, but he hath notice thereof.

[When the War is finished they may not return without order.] Being
in this manner sent forth, they dare not return, altho they have
performed and finished the Business they were sent upon, until he
send a special Order and Command to recall them.

[The Condition of the common Soldiers.] When the Armies are sent
abroad, as he doth send them very often against the Dutch, it goeth
very hard with the Soldiers; who must carry their victuals and Pots
to dress it in upon their Backs, besides their Arms, which are Swords,
Pikes, Bows and Arrows, and good Guns. As for Tents, for their Armies
alwayes ly in the Fields, they carry Tallipat leaves, which are very
light and convenient, along with them. With these they make their
Tents: Fixing sticks into the ground, and laying other pieces of
Wood overthwart, after the manner of the roof of an House, and so
lay their leaves overall, to shoot the Rains off. Making these Tents
stronger or slighter, according to the time of their tarriance. And
having spent what Provisions they carried out with them, they go home
to fetch more. So that after a Month or two a great part of the Army
is always absent.

[He conceals his purpose, when he sends out his Army.] Whensoever
the King sends his Armies abroad upon any Expedition, the Watches
beyond them are all secured immediately, to prevent any from passing
to carry Intelligence to the Enemy. The Soldiers themselves do not
know the Design they are sent upon, until they come there. None
can know his intentions or meaning by his actions. For sometimes he
sends Commanders with their Soldiers to ly in certain places in the
Woods until farther order, or until he send Ammunition to them. And
perhaps when they have laid there long enough, he sends for them back
again. And after this manner oftentimes he catches the Hollanders
before they be aware, to their great prejudice and dammage. He cares
not that his great Men should be free-spirited or Valiant; if there
be any better than the rest, them to be sure suddenly he cuts off,
lest they might do him any mischief.

[Great exploits done, and but little Courage.] In their War there
is but little valour used, altho they do accomplish many notable
Exploits. For all they do is by crafty Stratagems. They will never
meet their Enemies in the Field, to give them a repulse by Battel,
and force of Arms: [They work chiefly by Stratagems.] neither is the
Enemy like to meet with any opposition at their first goings out to
invade the King's Coasts, the King's Soldiers knowing the adverse
Forces are at first wary and vigilant, as also well provided with all
Necessaries. But their usual practice is to way lay them, and stop up
the wayes before them: there being convenient places in all the Roads,
which they have contrived for such purposes. And at these places the
Woods are not suffered to be felled, but kept to shelter them from
the fight of their enemies. Here they lye lurking, and plant their
Guns between the Rocks and Trees, with which they do great damage to
their Enemies before they are aware. Nor can they then suddenly rush
in upon them, being so well guarded with Bushes and Rocks before
them, thro which before their Enemies can get, they flee carrying
their great Guns upon their Shoulders and are gone into the Woods,
where it is impossible to find them, until they come them selves to
meet them after the former manner.

Likewise they prepare against the enemies coming great bushy Trees,
having them ready cut hanging only by withs which grow in the Wood;
these as they march along they let fall among them with many shot
and Arrows.

Being sent upon any design they are very circumspect to keep it
hidden from the Enemies knowledg; by suffering only those to pass,
who may make for their Benefit and advantage; their great endeavour
being to take their Enemies unprovided and at unawares.

[They understand the manner of Christian Armies.] By the long wars
first between them and the Portugueze, and since with the Hollander,
they have had such ample experience, as hath much improved them
in the art of War above what they were formerly. And many of the
chief Commanders and Leaders of their Armies are men which formerly
served the Portugueze against them. By which they come to know the
disposition and discipline of Christian Armies. Insomuch as they
have given the Dutch several overthrows, and taken Forts from them,
which they had up in the Countrey.

[They seldom hazzard a battel.] Heretofore for bringing the head of
an Enemy, the King used to gratify them with some reward, but now the
fashion is almost out of use. The ordering of their battel is with
great security, there being very few lost in Fight. For if they be
not almost sure to win the battel, they had rather not fight, than
run any hazzard of loosing it.

[If they prove unsuccessful, how he punishes them.] If his men do
not successfully accomplish the design he sends them upon, to be sure
they shall have a lusty piece of work given them, to take revenge on
them; for not using their weapons well he will exercise them with
other tools houghs and pickaxes, about his Palace. And during the
time they stay to work, they must bring their Victuals with them not
having monies there to buy: They cannot carry for above one month,
and when their Provisions are all spent, if they will have any more,
they must go home and fetch them. But that is not permitted them
without giving a Fee to the Governour or his Overseer. Neither can
they go without his leave, for besides the punishment, the Watches
which are in every Road from the Kings City will stop and seize them.







CHAP. VII.

A Relation of the Rebellion made against the King.


[A Comet ushered in the Rebellion.] For the Conclusion of this Part,
it will not be improper to relate here a dangerous rising of the
People against the King. It happened in the year 1664. About which time
appeared a fearful Blazing-Star. Just at the Instant of the Rebellion,
the Star was right over our heads. And one thing I very much wondred,
at, which was that whereas before this Rebellion, the Tail stood away
toward the Westward from which side the Rebellion sprung, the very
night after (for I very well observed it) the Tail was turned and stood
away toward the Eastward. And by degrees it diminished quite away.

[The intent of the Conspirators.] At this time, I say, the people
of this land, having been long and sore oppressed by this Kings
unreasonable and cruel Government, had contrived a Plot against
him. Which was to assault the Kings Court in the night, and to slay
him, and to make the Prince his Son, King. He being then some twelve
or fifteen years of age, who was then with his Mother the Queen in the
City of Cande. At this time the King held his Court in a City called
Nillemby. The Situation of which is far inferior to that of Cande,
and as far beyond that of Digligy where he now is. Nillemby lyeth
some fourteen miles southward of the City of Cande. In the place where
this City stands it is reported by Tradition an Hare gave chase after
a Dog, upon which it was concluded that place was fortunate, and so
indeed it proved to the King. It is invironed with Hills and Woods.

[How the Rebellion began.] The time appointed to put their design
in action was the one and twentieth of December 1664. about Twelve
in the night. And having gotten a select company of men, how many
well I know not, but as is supposed, not above two hundred, neither
needed they many here, having so many Confederates in the Court;
in the dead of the night they came marching into the City. The Watch
was thought to be of their confedracy: but if he were not, it was not
in his power to resist them. Howbeit afterwards, whether he were not,
he was executed for it. The said men, being thus in the City, hastened
and came down to the Court; and fell upon the great men, which then
laid without the Palace upon Watch: since which by the Kings order
they lye allways within the Palace. For they were well informed before
who were for them and who not. Many who before were not intrusted to
know of their design, were killed and wounded; and those that could,
seeing the slaughter of others, got in unto the King. Who was walled
about with a Clay-wall, thatched: that was all his strength. Yet these
people feared to assault him, laying still until the morning. At
which time the [The King Flyes.] King made way to flee, fearing to
stay in his Palace, endeavouring to get unto the mountains, and had
not with him above fifty persons. There were horses went with him,
but the wayes were so bad, that he could not ride. They were fain
to drive an Elephant before him, to break the way through the Woods,
that the King with his followers might pass.

[They pursue him faintly.] As he fled, they pursued him, but at a
great distance, fearing to approach within shot of him. For he wanted
not for excellent good Fowling-pieces, which are made there. So he
got safe upon a Mountain, called Gauluda, some fifteen miles distant,
where many of the Inhabitants, that were near, resorted to him. Howbeit
had the people of the Rebel-party been resolute, who were the major
part (almost all the Land;) this Hill could not have secured him,
but they might have driven him from thence; there being many ways by
which they might have ascended. There is not far from thence a high
and peaked hill called Mondamounour, where there is but one way to
get up, and that very steep, at the top are great stones hanging in
chains to let fall when need requireth. Had he fled hither, there
had been no way to come at him. But he never will adventure to go,
where he may be stopped in.

[They go to the Prince and Proclaim him King.] The People having
thus driven away the old King, marched away to the City of Cande,
and proclaimed the Prince, King: giving out to us English who were
there, that what they had done they had not done rashly, but upon good
Consideration, and with good advice; the King by his evil Government
having occasioned it, who went about to destroy both them and their
Countrey: As in keeping Ambassadours, disanulling of Trade, detaining
of all people that come upon his Land, and killing of his Subjects
and their Children, and not suffering them to enjoy nor to see their
Wives. And all this was contrary to reason, and as, they were informed,
to the Government of other Countries.

[The carriage of the Prince.] The Prince being young and tender, and
having never been out of the Palace, nor ever seen any but those that
attended on his person, as it seemed afterwards, was scared to see so
many coming and bowing down to him, and telling him that he was King,
and his Father was fled into the mountains. Neither did he say or
act any thing as not owning the business, or else not knowing what
to say or do. This much discouraged the Rebells, to see they had no
more thanks for their pains. And so all things stood until the five
and twentieth of December, at which time they intended to march and
fall upon the old King.

[Upon the Prices Flight, the Rebells scatter and run.] But in the
Interim, the Kings Sister Flyes away with the Prince from the Court
into the Countrey near unto the King; which so amazed the Rebells,
that the mony and cloth and plunder which they had taken, and were
going to distribute to the Strangers to gain their good will and
assistance, they scattered about and fled. Others of their Company
seeing the Business was overthrown, to make amends for their former
fact, turned and fell upon their Consorts, killing and taking Prisoners
all they could. The people were now all up in arms one against another,
killing whom they pleas'd, only saying they were Rebells and taking
their goods.

[A great man declares for the King.] By this time a great man had drawn
out his men, and stood in the Field, and there turned and publickly
declared for the old King: and so went to catch the Rebells that were
scattered abroad. Who when he understood that they were all fled,
and no whole party or body left to resist him, marched into the City
killing all that he could catch.

[For eight or ten days nothing but killing one another to approve
themselves good Subjects.] And so all revolted, and came back to
the King again: whilst he only lay still upon his mountain. The
King needed not to take care to catch or execute the Rebells, for
they themselves out of their zeal to him, and to make amends for
what was past, imprisoned and killed all they met; the Plunder being
their own. This continued for some eight or ten days. Which the King
hearing of, commanded to kill no more, but that whom they took they
should imprison, until examination passed; which was not so much to
save innocent persons from violence, as that he might have the Rebells
to torment them, and make them confess of their Confederates. For he
spared none that seemed guilty: some to this day lye chained in Prison,
being sequestred of all their Estates, and beg for their living. One
of the most noted Rebells, called Ambom Wellaraul, he sent to Columba
to the Dutch to execute, supposing they would invent new Tortures
for him, beyond what he knew of. But they instead of executing him,
cut off his chains, and kindly entertained him, and there he still
is in the City of Columba, reserving him for some designs they may
hereafter have against the Countrey.

[The King poysons his Son to prevent a Rebellion hereafter.] The King
could but not be sensible, that it was his rigorous government that
had occasioned this Rebellion, yet amended it not in the least; but on
the contrary like to Rehoboam added yet more to the Peoples yoak. And
being thus safely re-instated in his Kingdom again, and observing
that the life of his Son gave encouragement to the Rebellion, resolved
to prevent it for the future by taking him away. Which upon the next
opportunity he did by Poysoning him, which I have related before.

[His ingratitude.] But one thing there is, that argues him guilty of
imprudence and horrible ingratitude, that most of those that went along
with him when he fled, of whose Loyalty he had such ample experience,
he hath since cut off; and that with extreme cruelty too.

[Another Comet, but without any bad effects following it.] In the
year 1666 in the month of February, there appeared in this Countrey
another Comet or stream in the West, the head end under the Horizon,
much resembling that which was seen in England in the year 1680 in
December. The sight of this did much daunt both King and People,
having but a year or two before felt the sad event of a Blazing-Star
in this Rebellion which I have now related. The King sent men upon
the highest mountains in the Land to look if they could perceive the
head of it, which they could not, being still under the Horizon. This
continued visible about the space of one month, and by that time
it was so diminished, that it could not be seen. But there were no
remarkable passages that ensued upon it.




PART III.





CHAP. I.

Concerning the Inhabitants of this Island.


Wee shall in this Part speak of the Inhabitants of this Countrey,
with their Religion, and Customs, and other things belonging to them.

[The several Inhabitants of this Island.] Besides the Dutch who
possess, as I judg, about one fourth of the Island, there are Malabars,
that are free Denizons and pay duty to the King for the Land they
enjoy, as the Kings natural Subjects do; there are also Moors, who
are like Strangers, and hold no Land, but live by carrying goods to
the Sea-Ports, which now are in the Hollanders hands. The Sea-Ports
are inhabited by a mixt people, Malabars and Moors, and some that are
black, who profess themselves Roman Catholicks, and wear Crosses,
and use Beads. Some of these are under the Hollander; and pay toll
and tribute to them.

But I am to speak only of the natural proper People of the Island,
which they call Chingulays.

[The Original of Chingulays.] I have asked them, whence they derive
themselves, but they could not tell. They say their Land was first
inhabited by Devils, of which they have a long Fable. I have heard a
tradition from some Portugueze here, which was; That an antient King
of China had a Son, who during his Fathers Reign, proved so very
harsh and cruel unto the people, that they being afraid he might
prove a Tyrant if he came to the Crown, desired the King to banish
him, and that he might never succeed. This that King, to please the
people, granted. And so put him with certain Attendants into a ship,
and turned them forth unto the Winds to seek their fortune. The
first shore they were cast upon, was this Island. Which they seated
themselves on, and peopled it. But to me nothing is more improbable
than this Story. Because this people and the Chineses have no agreement
nor similitude in their features nor language nor diet. It is more
probable, they came from the Malabars, their Countrey lying next,
tho they do resemble them little or nothing. I know no nation in the
world do so exactly resemble the Chingulays as the people of Europe.

[Wild-men.] Of these Natives there be two sorts, Wild and Tame. I will
begin with the former. For as in these Woods there are Wild Beasts so
Wild Men also. The Land of Bintan is all covered with mighty Woods,
filled with abundance of Deer. In this Land are many of these wild men;
they call them Vaddahs, dwelling near no other Inhabitants. They speak
the Chingulayes Language. They kill Deer, and dry the Flesh over the
fire, and the people of the Countrey come and buy it of them. They
never Till any ground for Corn their Food being only Flesh. They
are very expert with their Bows. They have a little Ax, which they
stick in by their sides, to cut hony out of hollow Trees. Some few,
which are near Inhabitants, have commerce with other people. They
have no Towns nor Houses, only live by the waters under a Tree,
with some boughs cut and laid round about them, to give notice when
any wild Beasts come near, which they may hear by their rustling and
trampling upon them. Many of these habitations we saw when we fled
through the Woods, but God be praised the Vaddahs were gone.

[By an Acknowledgment to the King.] Some of the tamer sort of these men
are in a kind of Subjection to the King. For if they can be found, tho
it must be with a great search in the Woods, they will acknowledg his
Officers, and will bring to them Elephants-Teeth, and Honey, and Wax,
and Deers Flesh: but the others in lieu thereof do give them near as
much, in Arrows, Cloth &c. fearing lest they should otherwise appear
no more.

[How they bespeak Arrows to be made them.] It hath been reported
to me by many people, that the wilder sort of them, when they want
Arrows, will carry their load of Flesh in the night, and hang it up
in a Smith's Shop, also a Leaf cut in the form they will have their
Arrows made, and hang by it. Which if the Smith do make according
to their Pattern they will requite, and bring him more Flesh: but if
he make them not, they will do him a mischief one time or another by
shooting in the night. If the Smith make the Arrows, he leaves them
in the same place, where the Vaddahs hung the Flesh.

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