393 
io tiie Court of Cand^. 
fell at night were uncommonly heavy, and did not disperse 
till the sun broke through next morning in his full heat. Se- 
veral coolies lost. 
' 28th. The heat of the day very great: thermometer at 
104°. Distant thunder and lightning. The general continued 
to wait for coolies to replace those who had deserted ; nor was 
it indeed possible to proceed without a favourable change in 
the weather. 
29th. Morning very hot. Captain Kennedy who commanded 
the detachment of the 19th, having been very ill since our ar- 
rival here, was sent by water to Columbo, where he died in a 
fortnight after. About three o’clock it commenced a heavy rain, 
which continued incessantly for ten hours with severe thunder 
and lightning. 
30th. The same weather as yesterday, with the storm of as 
long continuance. During our stay here several messages passed 
between the general and the Adigar, who lay about the dis- 
tance of two miles across the river. The natives seemed very 
much displeased at our bringing artillery into their country, 
or stirring beyond the limits of our camp, although permission 
had been obtained from the court of Candy to have this em- 
bassy more splendid and numerous than any which had pre- 
ceded it, and although orders had been issued to give us the 
most friendly reception. It was indeed reported that the king 
found himself at that time in rather a precarious situation, 
from the internal divisions and factions among his subjects ; 
which made him wish that the escort attending the embassy 
should be as strong as possible. But the Adigar^ who was a 
man of great power and intrigue, and, as we had reason to sus- 
pect, not very friendly to the English, had sufficient influence 
3 E 
