NEGUMBO. 3^5 
are some old cannon. It has every appearance of having been 
formerly close to the sea -shore, from which at present it is some 
hundred yards distant. It is an universal opinion on the island, 
which this seems strongly to confirm, that the sea is rapidly losing 
ground on the western, and gaining on the eastern shore. The 
country around is a perfect flat, yet the lake and cocoa-nut groves 
formed a pretty scene, which Mr. Salt drew. The town is neat, large, 
and populous, with cocoa-nut and other fruit trees interspersed. 
The new cinnamon garden is distant only seven miles hence; the 
garrison is therefore more considerable for its protection. 
After a very pleasant dinner, I took leave of my kind and ex- 
cellent friend the Governor, and prepared to enter my palanquin, 
supposing of course that every thing was ready ; when to my utter 
astonishment, it was discovered that my whole number of forty-seven 
boys had fled, and with them the head cooley himself, a man high 
in office, and having the supreme control over this class. Such an 
event might have been expected had I been going to Candy, where 
Ihey always expect to perish ; but here there seemed no motive, 
and the presence of the Governor made it still more extraordinary : 
there was however no remedy. People were sent off in every direc- 
tion, particularly to the ferry at the Betal river, to have the fugitives 
stopped. 
January 15. — Early in the morning, thirty-nine of my deserters 
made their appearance. They pleaded in extenuation of their con- 
duct, that the head cooley had cheated them : instead of a dollar 
and a half in hand to provide themselves with food, he had only 
given them three or four fanams, by which means they had no- 
thing to eat, and could not work. I considered this as a sufficient 
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