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

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[How they mourn for the dead.] Their manner of mourning for the dead
is, that all the Women that are present do loose their hair, and let
it hang down, and with their two hands together behind their heads do
make an hideous noise, crying and roaring as loud as they can, much
praysing and extolling the Virtues of the deceased, tho there were
none in him: and lamenting their own woful condition to live without
him. Thus for three or four mornings they do rise early, and lament in
this manner, also on evenings. Mean while the men stand still and sigh.

[The nature of the Women.] These women are of a very strong couragious
spirit, taking nothing very much to heart, mourning more for fashion
than affection, never overwhelmed neither with grief or love. And
when their Husbands are dead, all their care is where to get others,
which they cannot long be without.

[How they Bury.] It may not be unacceptable to relate how they burn
their Dead. As for Persons of inferior Quality, they are interred in
some convenient places in the Woods, there being no set places for
Burial, carried thither by two or three of their Friends, and Buried
without any more ado. They lay them on their Backs, with their heads
to the West and their feet to the East, as we do. Then those People
go and wash; for they are unclean by handling the Dead.

[How they Burn.] But Persons of greater quality are burned, and
that with Ceremony. When they are dead they lay them out, and put a
Cloth over their Privy Parts, and then wash the Body, by taking half
a dozen Pitchers of water, and pouring upon it. Then they cover him
with a Linnen cloth, and so carry him forth to burning. This is when
they burn the Body speedily. But otherwise, they cut down a Tree that
may be proper for their purpose, and hollow it, like a Hog-trough,
and put the Body being Embowelled and Embalmed into it, filled up
all about with Pepper. And so let it lay in the house, until it be
the King's Command to carry it out to the burning. For that they
dare not do without the King's order, if the Person deceased be a
Courtier. Sometimes the King gives no order in a great while, it may
be not at all. Therefore in such cases, that the Body may not take
up house-room, or annoy them, they dig an hole in the floar of their
house, and put hollowed tree and all in and cover it. If afterwards
the King commands to burn the Body, they take it up again in obedience
to the King, otherwise there it lyes.

Their order for burning is thus. If the Body be not thus put into
a Trough or hollowed Tree, it is laid upon one of his Bedsteds,
which is a great honour among them. This Bedsted with the Body on
it, or hollowed Tree with the Body in it, is fastned with Poles,
and carried upon Mens Shoulders unto the place of Burning: which is
some eminent place in the Fields or High ways, or where else they
please. There they lay it upon a Pile of Wood some two or three foot
high. Then they pile up more Wood upon the Corps, lying thus on the
Bedsted, or in the Trough. Over all they have a kind of Canopy built,
if he be a Person of very high Quality covered at top, hung about
with painted Cloth, and bunches of Coker-nuts, and green Boughs;
and so fire is put to it. After all is burnt to ashes, they sweep
together the ashes into the manner of a Sugar-loaf: and hedg the
place round from wild Beasts breaking in, and they will sow Herbs
there. Thus I saw the King's Uncle, the chief Tirinanx, who was as
it were the Primate of all the Nation, burned, upon an high place,
that the blaze might be seen a great way. If they be Noblemen, but
not of so high quality, there is only a Bower erected over them,
adorned with Plantane Trees, and green boughs, and bunches as before.

[How they bury those that that die of the Small Pox.] But if any dye
of the small Pox, be his Degree what it will, he must be Buried upon
Thorns, without any further Ceremony.





PART IV.





CHAP. I.

Of the reason of our going to Ceilon, and Detaimnent there.


[The subject of this fourth Part.] In this Fourth and last Part,
I purpose to speak concerning our Captivity in this Island, and
during which, in what Condition the English have lived there, and
the eminent Providence of God in my escape thence, together with
other matters relating to the Dutch, and other European Nations,
that dwell and are kept there. All which will afford so much variety,
and new matters, that I doubt not but the Readers will be entertained
with as much delight in perusing these things, as in any else that
have been already related. I begin with the unhappy Occasion of our
going to this Countrey.

[The occasion of their coming to Ceilon.] Anno MDCLVII. The Ann Frigat
of London, Capt. Robert Knox Commander, on the One and twentieth day
of January, set Sail out of the Downs, in the Service of the Honourable
the English East-India Company, bound for Fort S. George, on the Coast
of Cormandel, to Trade one year from Port to Port in India. Which we
having performed, as we were Lading of Goods to return for England,
being in the Road of Matlipatan, on the Nineteenth of November Anno
MDCLIX. happened such a mighty Storm, that in it several Ships were
cast away, and we forced to cut our Main-Mast by the Board, which so
disabled the Ship, that she could not proceed in her Voyage. Whereupon
Cotiar, in the Island of Ceilon, being a very commodious Bay, fit
for our present Distress, Thomas Chambers Esq; (since Sir Thomas)
the Agent at Fort S. George, ordered, That the Ship should take in
some Cloth, and go to Cotiar Bay, there to Trade, while she lay to
set her Mast. Where being arrived according to the appointment of
those Indian Merchants of Porta Nova we carried with us, to whom those
Goods belonged, they were put ashore, and we minded our Business to
set another Main-mast, and repair our other Dammages we had sustained
by the late Storm.

[They were not jealous of the People, being very courteous.] At our
first coming thither, we were shy and jealous of the People of the
Place, by reason our Nation never had any Commerce or Dealing with
them. But now having been there some Twenty days, and going a Shore and
coming on Board at our Pleasure without any molestation, the Governor
of the Place also telling us, that we were welcom, as we seemed to
our selves to be, we began to lay aside all suspitious thoughts of the
People dwelling thereabouts, who had very kindly entertained us for our
Moneys with such Provisions and Refreshings as those Parts afforded.

[A pretended Message to the Captain from the King.] By this time the
King of the Countrey had notice of our being there, and as I suppose
grew suspicious of us, not having all that while by any Message made
him acquainted with our intent and purpose in coming. Thereupon
he dispatched down a Dissauva or General with his Army to us. Who
immediately sent a Messenger on Board to acquaint the Captain with his
coming, and desired him to come ashore to him, pretending a Letter to
him from the King. We saluted the Message with firing of Guns, and my
Father the Captain ordered me with Mr. John Loveland, Merchant of the
Ship, to go on shore and wait upon him. When we were come before him,
he demanded who we were, and how long we should stay? We told him,
We were English, and not to stay above twenty or thirty days, and
desired Permission to Trade in his Majestie's Port. His answer was,
the King was glad to hear that the English were come to his Countrey,
and had commanded him to assist us as we should desire, and had sent
a Letter to be delivered to none, but to the Captain himself.

We were then some twelve Miles from the Sea-side. Our reply was, That
the Captain could not leave his Ship to come so far, but if he pleased
to come down to the Sea-side himself, the Captain would immediately
wait upon him to receive the Letter. Upon which the Dissauva desired
us to stay that day, and on the morrow he would go down with us.

Which being a small request, and we unwilling to displease him,
consented to.

[The beginning of their Suspition.] The same day at Evening, the
Dissauva sent two of his chief Captains to the House where we lay
to tell us, That he was sending a Present to the Captain, and if we
pleased we might send a Letter to him; that he would send the Present
in the Night, and himself with us follow the next Morning. At which
we began to suspect, and accordingly concluded to write and advise
the Captain not to adventure himself, nor any other on shore till he
saw us. We having writ a Letter to this purpose they took it and went
away, but never delivered it.

[The Captain seized, and seven more.] The next Morning the Present,
which was Cattle, Fruit, &c. was brought to the Sea-side, and delivered
to the Captain; the Messengers telling him withal, that we were upon
the way coming down, with the Dissauva; who desired his Company on
shore against his coming, having a Letter from the King to deliver into
his own hand. Hereupon the Captain mistrusting nothing, came up with
his Boat into a small River, and being come ashore, sat down under
a Tamarind Tree, waiting for the Dissauva and us. In which time the
Native Soldiers privately surrounded him and Men, having no Arms with
them; and so he was seized on and seven men with him, yet without any
violence or plundering them of any thing: and then they brought them
up unto us, carrying the Captain in a Hammock upon their Shoulders.

[The Long-boat Men seized.] The next day after, the Long-boats Crew,
not knowing what had happened, came ashore to cut a Tree to make Cheeks
for the Main-mast, and were made Prisoners after the same manner,
tho' with more violence. For they being rough and making resistance,
were bound with Wyths, and so were led away till they came where the
People got Ropes. Which when our Men saw brought to them, they were
not a little affrighted. For being already bound, they concluded
there could be no other use for those Ropes but to hang them. But
the true use of them was to bind them faster, fearing lest the Wyths
might break, and so they were brought up farther into the Countrey;
but afterwards being become more tame, they were loosed. They would not
adventure to bring them to us, but quartered them in another House, tho
in the same Town. Where without leave we could not see one another. The
House wherein they kept the Captain and us, was all hanged with white
Callico, which is the greatest Honour they can shew to any. But the
House wherein the other men were, that were brought up after us, was
not. They gave us also as good Entertainment as the Countrey afforded.

[The General's Craft to get the Ship, as well as the Men.] Having
thus taken both our Boats and Eighteen men of us, their next care
was, fearing lest the Ship should be gone, to secure her: Therefore
to bring this about, the Dissauva told the Captain that the reason
of this their detainment was, that the King intended to send Letters
and a Present to the English Nation by him, and therefore that the
Ship must not go away, till the King was ready to send his Messenger
and Message, and thereupon desired the Captain to send on Board to
order her stay; and it being not safe for her to ride in the Bay,
lest the Dutch might come and fire her, that he should take order
for her bringing up into the River. Which advice of his, the Captain
approved not of. But concealing his dislike of it, replied, that
unless he could send two of his own men on Board with his Letter and
Order, those in the Ship would not obey him, but speedily would be
gone with the Ship. Which he, rather than he would run the hazzard
of the Ships departing, granted; imagining that the Captain would
order the Ship to be brought up into the River, as he had advised,
tho the Captain intended to make another use of this Message.

[The Captain's Order to them on board the Ship.] Upon which the
Captain sent two of his men, some Indians accompanying them in a
Canoo to the Ship, the Captain ordering them when they were aboard
not to abuse the Indians, but to entertain them very kindly, and
afterwards that setting them ashore, they should keep the Canoo to
themselves, instead of our two Boats, which they had gotten from us,
and to secure the Ship, and wait till further order.

These two men stayed on Board, and came not back again. This together
with the Ships not coming up displeased the Dissauva, and he demanded
of the Captain the reason thereof. His answer was, That being detained
on Shore, the Men on Board would not obey his Command. Upon this
some days after the Dissauva bid the Captain send his Son with order
to those aboard that the Ship might be brought into the River, but
provided that he would be Security for my return; which he promised he
would. His order to me was, to see the top Chains put upon the Cables,
and the Guns Shotted, and to tell Mr. John Burford chief Mate, and all
the rest, as they valued their Lives and Liberties to keep a Watch,
and not to suffer any Boat to come near, after it was dark: and charged
me upon his Blessing, and as I should answer it at the great Day,
not to leave him in this Condition, but to return to him again. Upon
which I solemnly vowed according to my Duty to be his Obedient Son.

[The Ships Company refuse to bring up the Ship.] So having seen all
done according to his appointment, I wrote a Letter in the Name of
the Company to clear my Father and my self, to this effect; That they
would not obey the Captain, nor any other in this matter, but were
resolved to stand upon their own defence. To which they all set their
hands. Which done according to my Promise and Duty I returned again,
and delivered the Letter to the Dissauva, who was thereby answered,
and afterwards urged the Captain no more in that matter: but gave him
leave at his pleasure to write for what he pleased to have brought to
him from the Ship: still pretending the King's order to release us,
was not yet, but would suddenly come. And so we remained expecting
it about two Months, being entertained as formerly with the best Diet
and Accommodation of the Countrey.

[The Captain orders the ship to depart.] Having continued thus long
in suspence, and the time and season of the year spending for the
Ship to proceed on her Voyage to some other place, and our condition
being, as we feared, and afterwards found to be, the beginning of a
sad Captivity, the Captain sent order to Mr. John Burford to take the
charge of the Ship upon him, and to set Sail for Porto Nova whence
we came, and there to follow the Agent's order.

[The Lading of Cloth remained untouched.] If any inquire what became
of the Cloth of our Lading, which we brought thither, they only took
an account to see what it was, and so left it where and as it was
before, and there it remained until both House and Goods rotted,
as the People of the same Town informed me afterwards.

[The Probable season of our Surprize.] I impute the main reason of
our Surprize to our Neglect, viz. in not sending a Letter and Present
to the King at our first coming. Who looking upon himself as a great
Monarch, as he is indeed, requires to be treated with sutable State.

[The number of those that were left on the Island.] Thus were Sixteen
of us left to the mercy of those Barbarians, the Names of which are as
follow. The Captain, Mr. Joh. Loveland, John Gregory, Charles Beard,
Roger Gold, Stephen Rutland, Nicolas Mullins, Francis Crutch, John
Berry, Ralph Knight, Peter Winn, William Hubbard, Arthur Emery, Richard
Varnham, George Smith, and my Self. Tho our hearts were very heavy,
seeing our selves betrayed into so sad a Condition, to be forced to
dwell among those that knew not God nor his Laws; yet so great was the
mercy of our gracious God, that he gave us favour in the sight of this
People. Insomuch that we lived far better than we could have expected,
being Prisoners or rather Captives in the hands of the Heathen;
from whom we could have looked for nothing but very severe usage.

[The Dissauva departs.] The Ship being gone, the King sent to call
the Dissauva speedily to him, who upon this order immediately marched
away with his Army, leaving us where we were. But concerning us was
no order at all.






CHAP. II.

How we were carried up into the Countrey, and disposed of there,
and of the sickness, sorrow and death of the Captain.


[They intend to attempt an Escape, but are prevented.] The Dissauva
with his men being gone, the people of the Town were appointed to
guard and secure us until further order. But they carryed us some six
miles higher into the Countrey, and would not yet adventure to bring
the Long boats-crew unto us, but kept them by themselves in another
Town, fearing lest we might make an Escape, as certainly we would have
attempted it had they not removed us. There was a small Moors Vessel,
which lay in the River, which they had seized on about this time,
as we supposed they would have done by our Ship if they could have
catched her there. This Vessel had some forty men belonging to her
who were not made Prisoners as we were, but yet lay in the same Town:
with those we had concluded, that they would furnish us with Arms,
and in the night altogether to march down, and get on board of their
Vessel, and so make our escape. But being prevented in this design
by our departure, we were fain to lay at their mercy.

[Their condition commiserated by the People.] In our new quarters
our entertainment proved as good as formerly. And indeed there was
this to mitigate our misery, that the People were courteous to us and
seemed to pity us. For there is a great difference between the People
inhabiting the high-lands, or the mountains of Cande, and those of
the low-lands where we now are placed, who are of a kinder nature
by far than the other. For these Countreys beneath the mountains
formerly were in subjection unto the Portugueze. Whereby have been
exercised and acquainted with the customs and manners of Christian
People. Which pleasing them far better than their own have begot
and bred in them a kind of love and affection towards Strangers,
being apt to shew Pity and Compassion on them in their distress. And
you shall hear them oftentimes upbraiding the High-landers for their
insolent and rude behavior.

[They are distributed into divers Towns.] It was a very sad Condition
whilst we were all together, yet hitherto each others company
lessened our sufferings, and was some comfort that we might condole
one another. But now it came to pass that we must be separated and
placed asunder, one in a Village, where we could have none to confer
withall or look upon, but the horrible black faces of our heathen
enemies, and not understand one word of their Language neither, this
was a great addition to our grief. Yet God was so merciful to us,
as not to suffer them to part my Father and I.

[An Order comes from the King to bring them up into the Countrey.] For
it was some sixteen days after our last remove, the King was pleased
to send a Captain with Soldiers to bring us up into the Countrey. Who
brought us and the other men taken in the Long boat together: Which
was an heavy meeting; Being then, as we well saw, to be carried
Captives into the mountains. That night we supped together, and the
next morning changed our condition into real Captivity. Howbeit they
gave us many comfortable promises, which we believed not; as, that
the Kings intent was not to keep us any longer, than till another
Ship came to carry us away. Altho we had but very little to carry,
God knows, yet they appointed men to carry the cloths that belonged
to the Captain and Officers.

[How they were Treated on the way in the Woods.] We still expected they
would plunder us of our cloths, having nothing else to be plundered
of: but the Chingulay Captain told us, that the King had given order
that none should take the value of a thread from us: Which indeed
they did not. As they brought us up they were very tender of us, as
not to tyre us with Travelling, bidding us go no faster than we would
our selves. This kindness did somewhat comfort us. The way was plain
and easie to Travail through great Woods, so that we walked as in an
Arbour, but desolate of Inhabitants. So that for four or five nights
we lay on the Ground, with Boughs of Trees only over our heads. And of
Victuals twice a Day they gave us as much as we could eat, that is,
of Rice, Salt-fish, dryed Flesh: And sometimes they would shoot Deer
and find Hony in the Trees, good part of which they always brought
unto us. And drink we could not want, there being Rivers and Puddles
full of Water as we Travelled along.

[And in the Towns among the Inhabitants.] But when we came out of the
Woods among Inhabitants and were led into their Towns, they brought
us Victuals ready dressed after their fashion, viz. Rice boiled in
Water, and three other sorts of Food, whereof one Flesh, and the
other two Herbs or such like things that grow in their Countrey, and
all kinds of ripe Fruit, which we liked very well and fed heartily
upon. Our entertainment all along was at the Charge of the Countrey:
So we fed like Soldiers upon free Quarter. Yet I think we gave them
good content for all the Charge we put them to. Which was to have the
satisfaction of seeing us eat, sitting on Mats upon the Ground in their
yards to the Publick view of all Beholders. Who greatly admired us,
having never seen, nor scarce heard of, English-men before. It was
also great entertainment to them to observe our manner of eating with
Spoons, which some of us had, and that we could not take the Rice up
in our hands, and put it to our mouths without spilling, as they do,
nor gaped and powred the Water into our Mouths out of Pots according
to their Countreys custom. Thus at every Town where we came they used
both young and old in great Companies to stare upon us.

[They are brought near Cande, and there Seperated.] Being thus brought
up all together somewhat near to the City of Cande. Now came an Order
from the King to separate us, and to place us one in a Town. Which
then seemed to us to be very hard, but it was for the convenience or
getting Food, being quartered upon the Countrey at their Charge.

[The Captain and his Son and two more quartered together.] The Captain
Mr. John Loveland, my self and John Gregory were parted from the rest,
and brought nearer to the City, to be ready when the King should
send for us. All the Rest were placed one in a Town according to the
aforesaid Order. Special Command also was given from the King, that
we all should be well entertained, and according to the Countrey fare
we had no cause to complain. We four were thus kept together some
two Months, faring well all the while. But the King minding us not,
[Parted.] Order came from the great Men in Court to place us in
Towns, as the rest were; only my Father and I were still permitted
to be together, and a great Charge given to use us well. [How they
fared.] And indeed twice a Day we had brought unto us as good fare as
the Countrey afforded. All the rest had not their Provisions brought
to them, as we had, but went to eat from house to house, each house
taking its turn.

[The Captain and his Son placed in Coos-wat.] On the Sixteenth of
September, 1660. My Father and I were placed in a Town called Bonder
Coos-wat the situation was very pleasing and commodious, lying about
Thirty Miles to the Northward of the City of Cande, in the Countrey
called Hotcurly and distant from the rest of our People a full days
journey. We were removed hither from another Town nearer to the City
where the Nobles at Court supposing that the King would call for us,
had placed us to have us ready. Being thus brought to Bonder Cooswat,
the People put it to our choice which House we would have to reside
in. The Countrey being hot and their Houses dark and dirty, my Father
chose an open House, having only a Roof but no Walls. Wherein they
placed a Cot, or Bed-stead only with a Mat upon it for him, which
in their Account is an extraordinary Lodging; and for me a Mat upon
the Ground.

[Moneys scarce with them.] Moneys at that time were very low with
us. For although we wanted not for opportunity to send for what
we would have brought unto unto us from the Ship, yet fearing we
should be plundered of it, sent not for any thing only a Pillow for
my Father. For we held it a point without dispute, that they that
made Prisoners of our Bodies would not spare to take our Goods;
my Father also alledging, that he had rather his Children at home
should enjoy them.

[But they had good Provisions without it.] But to make amends for
that, we had our Provisions brought us without money, and that twice a
Day, so much as we could eat, and as good as their Countrey yielded;
to wit, a Pot of good Rice, and three Dishes of such things as with
them is accounted good Cheer; one always either Flesh, Fish or Eggs;
but not over much of this Dish, the other Dishes, Herbs, Pumkins or
such like, one of which is always made sower.

[The Town where they were, Sickly.] The first year that we were brought
into this Town, this part of the Land was extraordinary Sickly by Agues
and Feavours, whereof many People dyed; insomuch that many times we
were forced to remain an hungry, there being none well enough either
to boil or bring Victuals unto us.

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