Chap. I. 
A 
667 
DESCRIPTION 
Of the Great and moft Famous Ifle of 
CE 
LON 
C H A P. I. 
The Situation, Extent and Difcovery of Ceyion,' 
T 
H E Ifle of Ceylon ( the Ta- 
^robana of the Antients ac- 
cording to John de Barros ) has 
got its Name among the Por- 
tuguejesy as well as the other 
Europeans, from its Capital City call'd 
Ceylon, known among the Natives by the 
Name of Laukauvon. 
This Ifle extends from the 6th to the 
loth degree of Northern Latitude. For- 
merly its Circumference was redon'd to 
be about 400 Leagues, tho fince that time 
the Sea has wafli'd away about 40 Leagues 
on the North-fide of it. In antient times 
it was queftionlefs (as we fliall fee anon 
in the Defcription of Manaar) annexed 
to the Continent. The Figure of this 
Ifle reprefents (according to Maffatis) 
an Egg, but in my opinion refembles ra- 
ther a iVeJlphalia Ham, whence without 
doubt the Dutch Fort near Jafnapamam 
has got the Name of Hams-heel. 
Jts Extent, The beforementioned Majfaics affirms, 
that its Circumference is at this time not 
above 240 Leagues, its Length 78, and 
the Breadth 44. But the Dutch, fince they 
have been Mafters of it, after the taking 
of Columho 1656. and of Manaar and 
Jafnapatnam 1658. have more exaftly 
computed itsCompafs to be 360 Leagues, 
It has many excellent Harbours, Cities 
and ForcrelTes, and is divided into feve- 
ral Provinces, as may be feen by the 
Title of the King of that Ifland, who 
nieofthe f{.jje5 i^imfelf, Raja Singa, Emperor of 
Ceylgn. Csyhn, King of Candea, Cota, Ceyta- 
vaca, Dambadan, Amorayapore, Jafnapat- 
Vol. III. 
nam j Prince of Ouva, Mature^ Dinava" 
ta, and the four Corks ; Great Duke of ^^e Titk.< 
the feven Corks, Matak, Earl of Cottar, 
Trinquenemak, Batecalo, Velafe, yintana, ^^^^ ^^^n 
Drembra, Panciapato, Veta, Putelaon, V al- introduced 
lare. Gale, BeUigaon ; Marquefs of Dura- by the Por- 
nura, Ratknura^ T npane, Acciapato ; Lord tuguefes, 
of the Sea-ports of Alkan, Columbo, 
Negombo, Chilau, Madampe, Calpentyn^ 
Aripiture, Manaar, and of the Filhery of 
precious Stones and Pearls Lord of the 
Golden Sun. All which Places, Cities, 
and Fortrefles we fliall have occafion to 
treat of hereafter. 
The Ifle of Ceylon abounds alfo in ex- 
cellent Rivers, fuch as Chilau, Matual, 
Alkan, Mature, Batecalo, Trinquenemak^ 
and others. It produces various forts 
of precious Stones, and is extremely fer- 
tile, efpecially in Cinnamon : Here are 
alfo found the belt Elephants of the 
whole Indks. 
This Ifle was firft difcover'd by the ^'^"^^ ■ 
V6TY 
Chinefes in the following manner : Cer- ' 
tain Chinefes having fuffer'd Shipvvrack, 
were forc'd afliore on that Ifland, where 
they profefl^d their King to be the Son 
of the Sun. The Inhabitants of Ceylon 
adoring at that time the Sun^ as the Ma- 
labars do to this day their Efwara^ i. e. 
the Sun, they were lb well pleafed with 
their new Guefbs, that they eleded the 
Captain of the Chinefe Jonke, or Veflel,,Syf/jC;ii- 
their King •, whence the prefent Kings of p^fei. 
Ceylon trace their Origin, and have 
taken upon them the Title of Lord of 
the Goldm Sun, this firfl; Chinefe King 
Rrrr 2 havin? 
