Introduction. 
t 
was with them the ruling passion ; and while they could carry ois 
their commerce in the towns on the sea-coast, they concerned them- 
selves very little with the interior of the island. Many Dutchmen, 
even of the better sort, had resided on Ceylon for a considerable 
number of years, without having ever been so much as a few 
leagues from the coast. Even those sent to command there w^ere 
seldom men of enlightened minds ; and provided they could secure 
their own interests, they w^ere umviiling to occupy their attention 
with the prosecution of plans which might have been productive of 
national benefits. 
All these causes conspired to render the accounts w^hich Euro- 
peans possessed of this island exceedingly imperfect ; and I was 
soon convinced that the narrow policy of the Dutch government, 
and the selfish views of their officers, had made them overlook 
many things which tended greatly to increase the value of the colo- 
ny. As it was now in our possession, these ideas made a forcible 
impression on my mind ; and the hope that I might contribute to 
render this new acquisition more valuable to my country, gave new'’ 
eagerness to my researches. The vast importance of the island, 
both in a commercial and political view, made me confident that 
it wmuld not be given up at any future peace ; for, wuth the excep- 
tion of Bombay, it contains the only harbour either on the Coro- 
mandel or Malabar coasts, in which ships can moor in safety at 
all seasons of the year ; and even before it came into our posses- 
sion, its internal produce presented several rich articles to com- 
merce. Any attempt therefore to throw light on the present state 
of the island, and thus to point out the means of improving its 
internal cultivation, and securing it against the attacks of exter- 
nal enemies, would at least have the merit of aiming at a national 
benefit. 
