394 
Journal the Embassy 
to over-i'ule several of llie king’s orders, and in many instances- 
to counteract his intentions. 
The weather continuing still unfavourable, and there being 
no prospect of procuring a siifiicient number of people to- 
carry the provisions and stores requisite for the whole escort,, 
while the roads which lay between us and Candy were so 
dreadfully bad as to render any attempt to proceed with our 
baggage and artillery almost impracticable ; the general was in- 
duced by these circumstances to leave the artillery with the 
Europeans and the greater part of the native troops ?ct this en- 
campment, and to proceed to Candy, escorted by two com- 
panies of Sepoys and the same number of the Malay regiment. 
Accordingly he gave out that he would cross the river next 
day, and appointed colonel Torrens to command here in his, 
absence. During upwards of a month that the detachment 
which, he left behind remained encamped at Re Sue Orti Pa- 
lagaraby Watty, very few days passed without the most heavy 
falls of rain, attended with close and violent peals of thunder, 
and lightning. This weather, which almost constantly closed the 
evening, and was followed by thick damp fogs at night, succeeded 
by excessive heat in the early part of the day, produced such a 
rapid change of temperature as was attended with the most per- 
nicious effects to the health of the troops. Dysenteries, fluxes, 
and liver complaints, became frequent; and the jungle fever, 
which often proves fatal where the person attacked has not an 
opportunity of being immediately removed to the sea air, began, 
to make its appearance. The woods around the encampment 
were also so close, that no one could stir out of the camp with- 
aut the greatest risque of losing himself in their mazes. Two 
jioldiers, happening to walk out one day, were in this maimer 
