AN 
ACCOUNT 
OF 
THE ISLAJNTD OF CEYLON. 
CHAPTER I. 
[ntrodiictio7i—-History of the Island previous to its being taken 
possession of by the English — The successive Conquests of the 
Portuguese, Dutch, and English. 
On my arrival in Ceylon with his Majesty’s forces, in the year 
1796, I was induced by curiosity, and the contradictory and 
romantic accounts I had heard of this island, to make particular 
inquiries with regard to its present state ; and I found an agree- 
able amusement in taking notes of such facts and objects as 
appeared to me remarkable. In the prosecution of my inquiries, 
however, I found that they might be rendered conducive to 
objects of infinitely greater importance than temporary amuse- 
ment. The accounts hitherto published of this island had been 
extremely imperfect ; as the watchful jealousy of the Dutch both 
excluded the researches of strangers, and prevented their own 
people from publishing any observations which they might have 
made during their stay in the island. Few, indeed, of that 
nation were anxious to inquire into the history either of the 
country, or its inhabitants. The desire of increasing their wealth 
B 
