ISLAND OF CEYLON. i8 



of Chri/llanityy notwithftanding they have labored under many 

 perfecutions. The pearl muffel is found in great abundance on 

 this coaft, and the filhery has, at different times, been atteixled 

 with good fuccefs, fince the Dutch have become matters. 

 Pliny fay?, that the greateft plenty were found in his days on 

 the coafts of T'abrobanay and Toidh, and Perijnula, on the 

 peninfula of Malacca. 



A SPECIES of Manati is certainly found here. EaldauSj a Manatu 

 learned clergyman, who refided long in Ceylon, defcribes it 

 (ChurcbUr% Coll. iii. 793) fo exadly, that we cannot miftake 

 the animal he intended. " Here is a peculiar fifli (properly 

 « a fea-calf) of an amphibious nature; the females have 

 *' breafts, and give fuck, and the flefh, when v/ell boil'd, taftes 

 <* not unlike our fturgeon, and might eafily be miftaken for 

 « veal." 



From Manaar is the very fhort paflage into the great 

 iiland of 



C E r I. O N^ 



known to the antients by the name of Tabrobana, I will not Ceyl^ko 

 attempt to expofe their miftakes in refpedl to extent, and fome 

 other particulars, as long as the identity of the ifle is afcer- 

 tained. Strabo mentions it in lib. xv. p« 1013, noticing the Strabo's 

 aukwardnefs of tlie inhabitants in failing, and fitting their mafts 

 in their velTels. Along the coafts are obferved various amphi- 

 bious animals, among which he plainly includes Manati \ fome 

 he compares to oxen, others tohorfes, and other land animals; 

 the Dugungy (De Buffon, xiii. 374, tab. Ivi.) may poffibly have 



been 



'» 



