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JOURNAL R. A. S. CEYLON. [EXTRA- NO?. 



Coast, a hundred of his ships, Both small and great, which had 

 just arrived. There were in the port eight ships belonging to 

 the Sultan of the country and destined to make the voyage to 

 Yemen. The sovereign gave orders to make preparations, and 

 assembled 1 people to guai*d : his vessels. When the Sinhalese 

 despaired of finding an opportunity of seizing them, they said, 

 ( ( We have only come to protect the vessels belonging to us, 

 which also must go* to Yemen. " 



When I entered the presence of the idolater Sultan, he rose, 

 and made me sit by his side, and; spoke to me with the greatest 

 good-will. "Let your comrades,' 7 said he, "land in all safety, 

 and be my guests until they leave. There is an alliance between : 

 me and the Sultan of Coromandel. " Then he gave orders to* 

 have me- lodged, and I remained with him for three days 5? in 

 great consideration, which increased every day. He understood 

 the Persian tongue, and much did he relish all I told him of 

 foreign Kings and countries. I entered his presence one day 

 when he had by him a quantity of pearls, which had been 

 brought from the fishery in his dominions. The servants of 

 the prince were sorting the precious from those which were not 

 so. He said to me, "Have you seen the pearl fishery in the 

 countries whence you have come?" "Yes," I answered, "I 

 have seen it in the island of Ke'is, and in that of Kech, 

 which belong to Ibn Assaouamely '." " I have heard of them," 

 replied he ; and then took up some pearls and added, "Are 

 there at that island any pearls equal to these?" I said, " I have 

 seen none so good." My answer pleased him, and he said, " They 

 are yours : do not blush/' added he, "and ask of me anything 

 you desire." I replied, "I have no other desire, since I have 

 arrived in this island, but to visit the illustrious Foot of Adam." 

 The people of the country call the first man bdbd {father) and 

 Eve, mdmd (mother). " That is easy enough," answered he, "We 

 shall send some one to conduct you." " That is what I wish," 



