56 



JOURNAL R. A. S. CEYLON. 



[extra -so.- 



and about five hundred women 3 bora of idolater fathers, who sing 

 and dance every night before the statue. The town and its re™ 

 venues are the private property of the idol; all who live in the 

 temple and those who visit it are supported therefrom. The 

 statue h of gold and of the size of a man. In place of eyes, it 

 las- two large rubies, and. I was told that they shone by night 

 like two lamps;. 



We took our departure for the town of Kaly* a small one 9 . 

 six parasangs from Dinewer, A Musalmah there, called the Ship- 

 Captain Ibrahim, entertained us at his house. We then took the 

 route for the town of Calenbou ( Colombo ) one of the largest: and;: 

 most beautiful in the island of Serendib. There dwells the 

 Vizier, prince of the sea, Djdlesty,^ who has there about 500> 

 Abyssinians. Three days after leaving Calenbou, we arrived at 

 Batthdlah, of which mention is made above. We visited the 

 Sultan of whom I have spoken. I found the Captain Ibrahim 

 awaiting me, and we left for the country of Ma?bar. 



[Tbn Batuta and his friends met with tempestuous weather, 

 and were wrecked on the Coast of Coromandel, probably near 

 the mouth of the Patar. He and his party, consisting of two 

 concubines, some companions and slaves, were conducted to 

 Arcot, and thence two days journey to the Sultan, who was 

 engaged in an expedition against the infidels. This was the Sultan 



* Kdly : — Guile. Six parasangs will be a little over 30 miles. The exact 

 distance is 31-38 miles. 



-j- Djdlesty .-—This appears to be the same Prince described by the traveller 

 John de Marignolli who was driven upon the coast of Ceylon on the 3rd May 

 (probably) 1350. He landed at Perivilis (? Barberyn) " over against Paradise. 

 Here a certain tyrant, by name Coy a Jaan, a eunuch, had the mastery in 

 opposition to the lawful king. He was an accursed Saracen, who, by means of 

 his great treasures, had gained possession of the greater part of the kingdom." 

 This person " in the politest manner" robbed him of the valuable gifts he was 

 carrying home to the Pope, and detained him four months. — Yule's 'Cathay,' 

 p. 357. 



