ISLAND OF GEYi^ON. 255 



Dondra-headyh next, that point is the moft fomhern of any Don-dra-head. 

 in the ifland. A little to the weft is Tanazvar, remarkable for Tanawar. 

 having been the Daiana of Ptolemy^ facred to the moon ; the 

 place ftill has its temple, or Pagoda, highly venerated by the 

 natives. Near it is one of the Dutch pofts, of which they have 

 a fucceflion every ten or twelve miles, guards to the internal 

 parts, and one may fay, to the iraprifoned Emperor. The gar- 

 rifons are provided with flags, by which fignals. either of 

 internal commotions, or the appearance of fhips, are conveyed 

 all along the coafts, even to Colombo, the feat of the Dutch 

 government. Almoft every one of thefe pofts are near the 

 mouth of fome river or torrent, which rufli on all ftdes into 

 the fea, at fhort intervals from the lofty mountains. 



Punta de Galle is a little to the north-weft of Dondra-head, in Punta ee 

 Lat. 6°, turning almoft due north. The town is ftrongly for- 

 tified, and is a place of great trade. The fleets return from 

 hence to Europe^ and generally fail by December 25th. In Colombo. 

 Lat. 7° we find CoIo?nbo, the Dutch feat of government, and 

 chief of their cities, built in a beautiful and magnificent man- 

 ner ; it was, as I have before mentioned, taken by them from 

 the Portuguefe. The death of their gallant general, Gerard 

 Huljl, caft a gloom over their fuccefs, and caufed their impor- 

 tant acquifition, for a while, to be loft in their forrow. 



Nigombo is a fortrefs fome miles to the north of Colombo, Nigombo, 

 and is the great guard to the cinnamon country. The whole 

 interval from Colombo is filled with beautiful villages, and 



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