4 
History of Ceylon 
calculated for the general reader than the man of science. But 
I hope the public will make some allowance for the habits of 
my profession; and if I succeed in affording either amusement 
or instruction, I trust they will excuse a little deficiency in syste- 
matic knowledge. 
Before proceeding to the principal object of this work, a des- 
cription of the present state of the Island of Ceylon, it will pro- 
bably gratify curiosity to give a short account of its ancient his- 
tory, and the successive changes it has undergone, since it came 
into the possession of Europeans. Such a sketch is even neces- 
sary to throw light on its present state, and to point out the way 
to its farther improvement, by shewing the errors committed by 
its former possessors. 
Previous to the arrival of the Portuguese little is known of the 
history of Ceylon. It is said to have been celebrated for its 
spices even in the earliest ages ; and it is hence that Solomon is 
supposed to have brought the spiceries and precious stones, for the 
use and embellishment of his temple. Such vague traditions, how- 
ever, are nowise to be depended upon ; and the traditions of the 
natives throw no light whatever on the ancient state of the 
island. 
In the traditionary accounts which are current among the 
Ceylonese, we have nothing more than a mere catalogue of some of 
their princes, accompanied by a long list of high-sounding titles^ 
and some uninteresting details of their petty wars and com- 
motions. From some of these accounts which have been 
committed to manuscript, we learn that Lankaw Patti Ma- 
hadaseyn, or the much beloved offspring of the always moving 
Sun, who lived at a distant period, was sovereign of the whole 
island. His t^vo grandsons, however, quarrelled about the pos- 
