124 Toivn and Fort Oj 
arrival here we found a rack and wntv„. < ^ great variety 
of other implements of torture, which d been used for in- 
flicting punishment on criminals, particu; rly slaves ; but these 
modes of punishment, so shocking to human nature, and so ab- 
horrent to the feelings of a Briton, were immediately abolished 
by our government. 
On the other side of the grand parade stand the cinnamon 
store-houses, or go-downs, as they are called here. At the- 
bottom of the parade stands a small building, used as the fort 
major’s office, which is only worthy of notice from a curious 
circumstance that gives a very poor idea of the state of civil- 
ization among the Dutch at Ceylon. While general Stewart 
was on his march hither from Nigumbo, during a thunder 
storm, a very usual occurrence in this part of the world, a 
■weather-cock on the top of this building happened to be struck 
by lightning; a circumstance which made a very deep impres- 
sion on the minds of the Dutch, and was considered as an 
omen of their future ill-success. 
At the upper end of the parade, the Dutch government had’ 
begun to erect a church, but it has never been finished. The 
Dutch usually attended divine service at a very handsome and 
spacious church in the black town, about a mile distant from the 
fort ; and worship is still performed there for the English> either 
before or after that of the Dutch inhabitants. The march to 
this church was attended with considerable inconvenience to our 
troops, in this sultry climate; on which account governor North 
was about to roof in the church within the fort, for their acr 
commodation., v 
The government-house, which faces the harbour, is a very 
long and capacious building, but more convenient than elegant. 
