244 Circumstances ivMcJi distmguish, &c. 
she insisted on going to Europe with them in 1803. Her fa- 
ther and husband on being informed of her intention were 
highly astonished at her resolution, and strove by all the 
means in their power to prevent her, and make her alter her 
determination; but without effect. They told the Colonel and 
Mrs. Robertson, on giving up the woman to their care, that 
she was the first of her race who ever left the island. Colonel 
Robertson related to me the above circumstance, and I have 
seen the young woman several times at his house in London 
taking care of her little charge. When I left Ceylon in 1800 
to serve on the continent of India, all the Cinglese in the ser- 
vice of the officers left their masters, and refused to leave 
Columbo. 
I am happy to state that the natives of Ceylon belonging 
to our settlements are become exceedingly attached to the 
English, and there is every reason to expect that their pre- 
judices against foreigners will soon be done away by our libe-^ 
ral conduct towards them. 
