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spot he first touched the shores of Ceylon. Trincomalee, from the secure retreat which its harbour affords, is of more consequence to the English government than the whole of the rest of the island; its intrinsic value is, moreover, increased by its proximity and easy access to our settlements in the Bay of Bengal; a vessel from Madras may ar rive here in two days, and can at any time make the harbour. The town itself is strong, and occupies more ground than Columbo, to which it is in every other respect very much inferior.

Jaffnapatam, the northern district of the island, is the most fertile and salubrious: the violence of those hot suffocating land-winds which rage so fiercely on the continent is broken by the intervening sea, the fields are clothed with verdure, and it is here only that sheep are reared with success. The greater number of the inhabitants of Jaffna are of Moorish extraction, and are divided into several tribes known by the names of Lubbahs, Mopleys, Chittys, and Choliars: they are distinguished by wearing a little round cap on their close-shaven heads. They carry on a variety of manufactures of coarse cloths, calicoes, shawls, &c.: here are also a number of goldsmiths, joiners, jewellers, &c. Having conducted us round the northern extremity of the island, Mr. Percival stops at the Bay of Condatchy, whilst he gives us a very curious and interesting account of the pearl fishery which is carried on here. The spectacle exhibited at this season, must be inconceive ably striking to an European: "several thousands of people of different colours, countries, casts, and occupations, continually passing and repassing in a busy crowd: the vast numbers of small tents and huts erected on the shore, with the bazar or market-place before each; the multitude of boats returning in the afternoon from the pearl banks; the anxious expecting countenances of the boatowners, while the boats are approaching the shore, and the eagerness and avidity with which they run to them when arrived in hopes of a rich cargo;" the numbers of jewellers, brokers, and merchants, all busily occupied in some way or other with the pearls; tend to impress the mind, as Mr. Percival observes, with the value and importance of that object which can of itself create this

scene.

"The first step, previous to the commencement of the fishery, is to have the different oyster banks surveyed, the state of the oysters ascertained, and a report made been found that the quantity is sufficient, on the subject to government. If it has and that they are arrived at a proper degree of maturity, the particular banks to be fished that year are put up for sale to the highest bidder, and are usually purchased by a black merchant. This, however, is not always the course pursued: government fish the banks on its own account, and to dissometimes judges it more advant geous to pose of the pearls afterwards to the merchants. When this plan is adopted, boats are hired for the season on account of government, from different quarters; the price varies considerably, according to circumstances; but is usually from fire to eight hundred pagodas for each boat. There are however no stated prices, and the best bar gain possible is made for each boat separately. The Dutch generally followed this last system; the banks were fished on government account, and the pearls disposed of in different parts of India, or sent to Europe. When this plan was pursued, the governor and council of Ceylon claimed a certain per centage on the value of the pearls; or, if the fishing of the banks was disposed of by public sale, they bargained for a stipulated sum to themselves over and above what was paid on account of government. The pretence on which they founded their claims for this perquisite, was their trouble in surveying and valuing the banks.

"As neither the season, nor the conve nience of the persons attending, would permit the whole of the banks to be fished in one year, they are divided into three or four different portions, which are fished one portion annually in succession. The different portions are completely distinct, and are set up separately to sale, each in the year in which it is to be fished. By this means a sufficient interval is given to the oysters, to attain their proper growth; and as the portion first used has generally recovered its maturity by the time the last portion has been fished, the fishery becomes almost regularly annual, and may thus be considered as yielding a yearly revenue The oysters are supposed to attain their completest state of maturity in seven years; for, if left too long, I am told that the pearl gets so large and so disagreeable to the fish, that it vomits and throws it out of the shell."

The fishing season begins in Febru ary, and ends about the beginning of April.

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break; and at sun-rise commence fishing. In this they continue busily occupied till the sea-breeze, which arises about noon, warns them to return to the bay. As soon as they appear within sight, another gun is fired, and the colours hoisted, to inform the anxious owners of their return. When the boats come to land, their cargoes are immediately taken out, as it is necesssary to have them completely unloaded before night. Whatever may have been the success of their boats, the owners seldom wear the looks of disappointment; for, although they may have been unsuccessful one day, they look with the most complete assurance of better fortune to the next; as the Brahmins and conjurers, whom they implicitly trust, in defiance of all experience, understand too well the liberality of a man in hopes of good fortune, not to promise them all they can desire.

"Each of the boats carries twenty men, with a Tindal or chief boatman, who acts as pilot. Ten of the men row and assist the divers in re-ascending. The other ten are divers; they go down into the sea by fite at a time; when the first five come up the other five go down, and by this method of alternately diving, they give each other time to recruit theniselves for a fresh plunge

"In order to accelerate the descent

of the divers, large stones are employed: five of these are brought in each boat for the purpose; they are of a reddish granite, common in this country, and of a pyramidal shape, round at top and bottom, with a hole perforated through the smaller end sufficient to admit a rope. Some of the divers use a stone shaped like a half-moon, which they fasten round the belly when they mean to descend, and thus keep their

fect free.

These people are accustomed to dive from their very infancy, and fearlessly descend to the bottom in from four to ten fathom water, in search of the oysters. The diver, when he is about to plunge, seizes the rope, to which one of the stones we have described is attached, with the toes of his right foot, while he takes hold of a bag of net-work with those of his left; it being customary among all the Indians to use their toes in working or holding as well as their fiugers, and such is the power of habit that they can pick up even the smallest thing from the ground with their toes as nimbly as an Eurojean could with his fingers. The diver thus prepared, seizes another rope with his right hand, and holding his nostrils shut with the left, plunges into the water, and by the assistance of the stone speedily reaches the bottom. He then hangs the net round his neck, and with much dexterity, and all possible dispatch, collects as many oysters as be can while he is able to remain under water, which is usually about two minutes. He then resumes his former position, makes a signal to those above by pulling the rope

in his right hand, and is immediately by this means drawn up and brought into the boat, leaving the stone to be pulled up afterwards by the rope attached to it.

"The exertion undergone during this process is so violent, that upon being brought into the boat, the divers discharge water from their mouth, ears, and nostrils, and frequently even blood. But this does not hinder them from going down again in their turn. They will often make from forty to fifty plunges in one day; and at each plunge bring up about one hundred oysters. Some rub their bodies over with oil, and stuff their ears and noses to prevent the water from entering; while others use no precautions whatever, Although the usual time of remaining under water does not much exceed two minutes, yet there are instances known of divers who could remain four and even five minutes, which was the case with a Caffree boy the last year I visited the fishery, The longest instance ever known was that of a diver who came from Anjango in 1797, and who absolutely remained under water full six minutes."

dians in diving, arise from falling in The chief terror and risque of the Inwith the ground-shark while at bottom: this animal is a common and terrible inhabitant of all the seas in these latitudes, and a source of perpetual uneasiness to the adventurous Indian, who is always guaranteed from harm by priests or conjurers kept in pay for the occasion. If an accident happens, these fellows are singularly dexterous in accounting for it they are known in the Malabar language by the name of Pillal-karras, or binders of sharks. Oyster lotteries are carried on to a great extent; they con sist of purchasing a quantity of the oysters unopened, and running the chance of finding pearls in them: they are much encouraged by European of ficers.

As

"As soon as the oysters are taken out of the boats, they are carried to the different people to whom they belong, and placed in holes or pits dug in the ground to the depti of about two feet, or in small square places cleared and fenced round for the purpose; each person having his own separate divi sion. Mats are spread below them to prevent the oysters from touching the earth, and here they are left to die and rot. soon as they have passed through a state of putrefaction, and have become dry, they are easily opened without any danger of injur ing the pearls, which might be the case if they were opened fresh, as at that time to do so requires great force. On the shell being opened, the oyster is minutely examined for the pearls: it is usual even to boil the oyster, as the pearl, though commonly found in the

shell, is not unfrequently contained in the body of the fish itself."

The stench occasioned by the putrid oysters corrupts the atmosphere for several miles round Condatchy, and renders the neighbourhood extremely unpleasant till the monsoons and violent south-west winds set in and purify the air.

But we have so much interesting matter before us, that we must take our leave of the pearl fishery: nothing very particular occurs to detain us until we reach Columbo, except the salt-works at Puttalon, which the Dutch pitched upon for the exclusive manufactory of that important article, with which by treaty it supplied the king of Candy's dominions. Columbo is the capital of Ceylon, and the seat of government; it is strong by nature, and strengthened by art; its population is numerous, its situation healthy, and the district depending on it extensive and fertile. When the English arrived here, they found a rack and a wheel, with a great variety of other implements of torture; these were instantly destroyed by the humanity of the British government. Columbo is one of the most populous places in India; there is no part of the world, says Mr. P. where so many different languages are spoken, or which contain such a mixture of nations, manners, and religions. The language in most general use here, both by Europeans and Asiatics, is the Portugueze of India, a base, corrupt dialect, altogether different from that spoken in Portugal. It is from this district that large quantities of cinnamon and pep. per, the staple spices of the island, are yearly transported to Europe, arrack is made in great quantities, and sent to our Indian settlements, as are a variety of other articles, the produce of the island, such as betel-leaf, and areka-nut, cocoanut, coral, ivory, &c. A large quantity of coya-rope, or cordage, is also manufac tured here, and supplics are sent to our ships on the Indian seas, In return, rice is imported, calicoes, muslins, tin, copper, &c.; and a Portugueze or Chinese ship arrives once a year from Macao with teas, sugar, sweetmeats, hams, silks, velvets, nankeens, umbrellas, straw hats, all kinds of China-ware and toys. The country for several miles around Columbo is extremely rich; the groves of cinnamon and cocoa-trees form a shade impenetrable to the fiercest sun, and afford a refreshment to the tra

veller which no European can estimate who has not experienced it.

Pursuing his course south of Colum bo, Mr. P. conducts us to Puntura; to Caltura, where certain native manufac tures are carried on to a considerable extent; to Point de Galle, whose harbour we have already mentioned; and to Matura, the country around which abounds with elephants. It is here that they are principally caught for expor tation; every three or four years the elephant is hunted here by order of go vernment. In the year 1797, at one of these hunts, a hundred and seventy-six were caught, the greatest number ever remembered to have been taken at one time. From Matura, no European settlement occurs till we come to Batacolo, a distance of sixty miles, very much infested by wild beasts. From Batacolo we proceed to Trincomalće, having now under the guidance of Mr. Percival, who is a very instructive and entertaining companion, completed a tour round the island.

Before Mr. Percival enters upon a description of the interior parts of Cey lon, which are under a different sove, reign, and inhabited by people of a dif, ferent appearance and customs from those on the sea coast, he gives an ac. count of these latter. Besides the native Ceylonese, who live under the do. minion of the Europeans, and are dis 'tinguished by the name of the Cinglese, the coasts are chiefly inhabited by Dutch, Portugueze, and Malays. The Ceylonese Dutch are represented as liv ing almost upon gin and the fumes of tobacco; inert, stupid, ceremonious, selfish, and so callous to the feelings of humanity, as to treat their poor slaves with cruelty upon the slightest provo, cation, and often from mere caprice.

It cannot escape notice, that we have purposely omitted any account of the military operations of the English: the fact is that we were fearful of extending the article to an unreasonable length. The consequence of the omission has been, that we have neglected the notice of two additional traits in the character of the Ceylonese Dutch; namely, cowardice, and treachery. The capture of Columbo was effected without resistance, and as the Dutch had every advantage of situation. knowledge of the country, and formidable works, nothing can convey a more striking idea of the degraded state to which their military establish、

ments were reduced, than their suffering an enemy to advance unmolested in such circumstances. "It is only to the total extinction of public spirit, and of every sentiment of national honour," observes Mr. Percival, "that such conduct can be attributed. A thirst of gain, and of private emolument, appears to have swallowed up every other feeling in the breasts of the Dutchmen; and this is a striking warning to all commercial nations, to be careful that those sentiments which engage them to extend their dominions, do not obliterate those, by which alone they can be retained and defended." Shocking instances of their treachery are recorded in pages 129, and 161 et seq. we could wish to forget them.

The Dutch ladies are exactly such as we should expect the wives and daughters of Dutch husbands and Dutch fathers to be; their minds, their morals, and their manners, alike coarse and uncultivated. Dirty and indelicate, the elder ladies chew the betel-leaf and areka-nut, and spit into the same pan which is employed for that purpose by the smoakers!!

The present Portugueze of Ceylon are a mixture of the spurious descendants of the several European possessors of that island, by native women, joined to a number of Moors and Malabars. What a delectable mixture! their religion is just what it should be-a compound of Paganism and Catholicism. The complexions of this mongrel breed, of course, vary according to circumstances; jet black, sickly yellow, and tawny. They combine all the vices of the Europeans and Indians, without any of their vir

tues.

The Malays form a considerable proportion of the inhabitants of Ceylon; of this vindictive and ferocious race, SO widely scattered over the Eastern parts of India, Mr. Percival has given a more full and characteristic account than any we recollect having elsewhere met with, Those of them who are brought up in the European colonies, contract more of the habits of civilized society, than such as remain in their original empire of Molucca, but they never become completely tame; their natural ferocity is never entirely got rid of. The men are jealous to an extreme, and the passions of both sexes are equally violent; if an European paramour offers the slightest neglect to a Malay woman, she will take a sure and terrible revenge. The Ma

lays universally profess the Mahometan religion, and observe its ceremonies strictly: they have a peculiar fondness for gardening, and a skill in medicinal herbs is general among them. Their amusements are suited to their dispositions, and are bold, vigorous, and ferocious: they are fond of music; and having lost their last stake at gaming, will often sacrifice themselves and their lucky antagonist to their despair. In their own country, their government resembles the ancient feudal institutions of Europe; but the fierce temper arising from such institutions, which in Europe was softened by the Christian religion, has rather been exasperated by that which the Malays have embraced; they mingle no courtesy with their courage: all is ferocity, and revenge. The kreese, which every Malay carries about him and which descends with religious care from generation to generation, is a poisoned dagger, the blade of which is of the best tempered steel, and often made of a serpentine form, so as to inflict the more dreadful wound; the ivory handle, carved into the similitude of a man's body, with a bird's head, is their swanny or god, to which they make obeisance before they draw the kreese to execute some atrocious purpose, and which is never sheathed again till it has been drenched in blood. Before they run-a-muck, in order to secure themselves from the possibility of being diverted from their bloody purpose, they intoxicate themselves, and produce a desperate delirium by taking opium prepared from an herb called bang. In this horrible frenzy, into which a Malay works himself in the thirst of revenge for some real, or perhaps imaginary grievance, he rushes headlong into the street, and stabs indiscriminately every one who comes in his way, crying aloud Amek, Amok; kill, kill. The fury of the devoted wretch, says Mr. Percival, is indescribable, and Le mischief he often does is very great, before a lucky shot brings him down. The cruelty and insolence of the Dutch towards their Malay slaves occasioned very frequent mucks in their settlements. It is with the highest pride and pleasure we learn, that since the arrival of the English at Ceylon, this barbarous practice has almost been unknown. How honourable a testimony to the humane and mild administration of the English government! The Malays are well dis

ciplined soldiers, profoundly obedient to command, and submit without a murmur, and without a thought of revenge, to any sentence from a court-martial: it is an ordinance of their religion, to pay implicit obedience to all their ofcers, European as well as Malay, and to execute military orders with the strictest punctuality. Mr. Percival is of opinion, that mild and generous treatment may in time subdue their native ferocity; but the only way of radically extirpating it is, by the introduction of christianity among them.

The native Ceylonese compose the great majority of the inhabitants of the island; those under the dominion of Europeans retain their original appellation of Cinglese; the rest,whoacknowledge the authority of their native princes alone, are called Candians, *The Ceylonese, of both sexes, are remarkably clean and neat both in their persons and their houses, abstemicus in their diet, and so scrupulously nice in their eating and drinking, cookery, &c. that to avoid touching with their lips the vessel out of which they drink, they hold it at some distance from their heads, and literally pour the drink down their throats. The Ceylonese are courteous and polite, charitable, honest, for Indians, and mild; when their anger is roused, their revenge however is mortal; and a Ceylonese has often been known to kill himself in the presence of his foe, in order that the latter, as the presumptive murderer, might suffer from it. The Ceylonese are grave and punctilious; their gravity may be derived from the gloomy superstition with which they are haunted from their cradle to their grave, and from the dispirited and oppressed state in which they have been so long kept by their tyrannous masters, the Portugueze and the Dutch. Sports and diversions seem almost unknown among them. We do not know how to reconcile their unu sual continence with respect to women, with the account which immediately follows of their unbounded licentiousness, page 176, et seq. A mother makes no scruple of disposing of her daughter's favours for a small sum, to any one that desires them; and to have been con

nected with an European is an honour which excites envy. As marriages aré dissolvable at the option of either party, polygamy, though lawful, is not general, it is expensive, and not necessary. Marriages are often contracted by parents during the childhood of their children, with a view to the observance of rank, and are often dissolved almost as soon as consummated.

"It is also customary for those who intend to marry, previously to cohabit and make trial of each other's temper; and if they find they cannot agree, they break off without the interference of the priest, or any further ceremony, and no disgrace attaches on the occasion to either party, but the wolover as if he had found her in a state of vir man is quite as much esteemed by her next ginity.

After the parties have agreed to marry, the first step is, that the man present his bride with the wedding-clothes, which indeed are not of the most costly kind: they consist of a piece of cloth, six or seven yards in length, of cloth to be placed on the bed. It gives for the use of the bride, and another piece

us a striking idea of the total want of industry among the Ceylonese, and their extreme riage presents are frequently beyond the abistate of poverty, that even these simple marlity of the man to purchase, and that he is offen obliged to borrow them for the occas sion from some of his neighbours.

"The wedding presents are presented by the bridegroom in person, and the following night he is entitled to lie with the bride. bringing her home, and celebrating the Upon this occasion is appointed the day for wedding with festivities. On that day he and his relations repair to the bride's house, carrying along with them what they are able to contribute to the marriage feast. The bride and bridegroom, in the presence of this assembly, eat out of one dish to denote that they are of the same rank. Their thumbs concludes by the nearest relations, or the are then tied together; and the ceremony priest, when he is present, cutting them asunder. This, however, is accounted a less binding ceremony, and indeed scarcely intended for continuance. When it is desired to make the marriage as firm and indissoluble as the nature of their manners will allow, the parties are joined together with a long piece of cloth, which is folded several times round both their bodies; and water is then poured upon them by the priest, who always officiates at this ceremony although rarely at the former. After the marriage ceremony,

*Although there are some shades of difference between the Candians and Cinglese, their characters and castons are so generally alike, that a description of the Ceylonese will be found sufficiently characteristic of both. In a subsequent chapter, Mr. Percival, with that care and accuracy which stamp so high a value on bis work, has enumerated those cir cumstances which distinguish the Candians from, the Cinglese.

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