264 Civil and Military Establishments 
bound to bestow the inonarcliy on a branch of the royal fa- 
mily ; but think they are completely at liberty to elect either 
a native or a foreigner, though nowise connected with the 
royal blood. The throne, however, has in general, been for 
many ages possessed by the ancient Candian royal family, which 
is now very nearly extinct. 
There appears to be no fixed regulation for conducting the 
election; and what is called the choice of the people may very 
justly be supposed to mean merely the consent of the ruling 
party at the time. There have been a number of absurd sto- 
ries told ]>y some voyagers with regard to the method pur- 
sued by the Candians in the election of a king. I had an 
opportunity of enquiring particularly into the foundation of 
these tales from some of the principal and best informed Caii- 
dians whom I met at Sittivacca and Ruanelli. It has been 
said that when the Candians were about to elect a king, the 
whole people of the kingdom were assembled for that purpose, 
and the candidates, together with an elephant, produced be- 
fore them. The elephant was then made the arbiter of the 
throne, and the first of the candidates before whom he stopt, 
and made obeisance, of his own accord and without being any- 
wise instructed to it, was looked upon as the most proper per- 
son to enjoy the sovereign dignity, and was accordingly elected 
without farther contest. This story has long been current on 
the island, and is still believed by many residing there ; and 
yet upon enquiring into the fact among the best informed 
Candians, they assured me that no such ceremonial had ever 
taken place. 
The King of Candy yields to no eastern prince in the num- 
ber and extravagance of his titles. I once had an opportunity 
