of Candy . 277 
for a peasant, a labourer with a stick across his shoulder, and 
a bag or wallet attached to each end of it: the passport of 
an European has impressed on it the figure of a man with a 
hat on his head and a sword by his side. These precautions 
are strictly enforced and completely serve the intended pur- 
pose: but it would be needless even in the most jealous prince 
to throw any more obstacles in the way of communication and 
intercourse, than is interposed by nature, especially when we 
consider that the king allows none of the woods to be clear- 
ed away, nor any roads to be made through his dominions. 
His apprehensions of intrusion from strangers, except when he 
is at war with the Europeans, are no better grounded ; as even 
the native Cinglese of the coasts are so possessed with an opi- 
nion of the fatality of the climate in the interior, that they 
think with terror of approaching it. This we learnt to our 
cost in the embassy to the court of Candy, when the Cing- 
lese peasants, who were employed in conveying our guns and 
bas^ase, deserted in such a manner that we were oblijred to 
leave the greater part behind. 
The narrov/ paths which lead through the woods and moun- 
tains of the Candians, are indeed sufficient for all the pur- 
poses of the natives, as they universally travel on foot. To ride 
on horseback is a royal privilege ; and a privilege seldom made 
use of by the monarch himself. There are indeed no horses 
kept in the interior but those belonging to his Majesty ; and 
even the royal stud is in a very reduced state, as it consists, 
merely of presents from the European governments of the 
coasts. No horses are reared in the interior; and it is observ- 
ed they die soon after they are brought there, both from: 
the change of climate, and from the want of proper care and 
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