Chap. V.] BAY OF TRINCOMALIE. 487 



Tlie constant residence of tlie civil authorities of the 

 province, tlie presence of the military, and the occa- 

 sional visits of the squadron luider the naval com- 

 niander-in-cliief, are the main circumstances to which 

 Trincomalie is indebted for whatever measm-e of pros- 

 perity it enjoys. 



With the exception of the official buildings, the toAvn 

 is poorly constructed, and the bazaars the least inviting 

 in Ceylon. There are a number of Hindu temples, 

 with the usual paraphernalia of idols and cars, for reh- 

 gious festivals and processions ; but these are in such 

 barbarous taste as to stifle interest and repel curiosity. 



On compaiing this magnificent bay witli the open 

 and unsheltered roadstead of Colombo, and the danger- 

 ous and hicommodious harbour of Galle, it excites an 

 emotion of sur])rise and regret that any other than 

 Trincomahe sJiould ever have been selected as the seat 

 of government and the commercial capital of Ceylon. 

 But the adoption of Colombo by the Portuguese, and 

 its retention by the Dutch, were not matters of delibe- 

 ration or choice. Its selection was determined solely by 

 the accident of its proximity to the only district of the 

 island which produced the precious cinnamon, which, [is 

 13alda3us quaintly observes, has always been " the Helen 

 or l)ride of contest," whose exclusive .possession was 

 chsputed in turn by every European invader. 



The Portug-uese constructed tlie fort of Colombo to 

 control the petty princes of the interior, and enable their 

 officers to exact their annual tribute of the precious 

 spice ; in their eagerness for which the productions or 

 capabihties of all the rest of Ceylon were disregarded. 

 On the same principle, the policy of the Dutch was 

 exclusively chrected to secure this grand niono]ioly ; 

 and, as they prohibited trade from all hands otlier than 

 their own, they never even dreamed of considering Avhat 

 port might be the most advantageous for external com- 



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