CUAP. VI.] 



JAFFNA. 



541 



On the occupation of Ceylon by the Britisli, the prin- 

 cipal European inhabitants emigrated to Bata\ia ; yet, 

 of all the settlements of HoUand in the island, none 

 is still so thoroughly Dutch in its architecture and 

 aspect as the town of Jaffna. The houses, hke those 

 of Colombo, consist of a single story, but they are large 

 and commodious, with broad verandahs, lofty ceihngs, 

 and spacious apartments. Every building, inside and 

 out, is as clean and showy as whitewash, fresh paint, 

 bright red tiles and brick floors can make them. The 

 majority of them are detached, and situated in en- 

 closed gardens filled with fruit-trees and flowering 

 shrubs ; and I am told, some years ago, the finest 

 specimens of antique carved furniture in ebony and 

 calamander, cabinets, arm-chairs, and ponderous sofas, 

 ■were still to be seen in these ancient dwellings of the 

 former rulers of the island. The streets of the town 

 are broad and regular, and are planted, as usual, ^vitli 

 fines of Suria trees, for the sake of their asiireeable shade 

 and yeUow flowers. 



The fort, which was entirely reconstructed by the 

 Dutch, is the most perfect little mihtary work in Ceylon, 

 — a pentagon, built of blocks of white coral, and sur- 

 rounded by a moat. It contains several excellent build- 

 ings, a residence for the Commandant, and an old chui'ch 

 in the form of a Greek cross. This, by the capitulation 

 of 1795, was specially reserved for the Presbyterian Con- 

 sistory, but by their courtesy is at present used for the 

 service of the Church of England. ^ 



The native town is almost exclusively occiq)ied by 

 Tamils and Moors, and the tradesmen and dealers ex- 

 hibit in their several pursmts no less inteUigence and 

 industry than characterise the rural population. They 

 weave a substantial cotton cloth, which is dyed and 



* y.VLEXTTN describes tlie fortress 

 of Jcaftiiapatam -with great particu- 

 larity, its bastions, its ravelin, and 

 "water pass ; and such was the import- 

 ance attached to it by the Dutch^ 



that he says the gain-ison maintained 

 there was much stronger tlian tliat of 

 ]jatavia.- — Oudcn Nicuic Oo»f-I/idicn, 

 ch. ii. p. .'30. 



