S96 Journal of the Emhass^ 
of the Portuguese and Dutch, had become too rooted to be 
easily removed. To this we are to attribute that distrust and 
dislike towards us, which they took every ' opportunity of shew- 
ing. No sooner were tidings brought them that we had set 
forward on our route from Columbo to Sittivacca, than they 
immediately began to assemble in great numbers . on their fron- 
tiers, under the idea that we were approaching with hostile in- 
tentions. A message from the king, however, removed their 
apprehensions on this head ; and at the same time those militia _ 
received orders immediately to join the regular troops, and 
in nowise to obstruct or molest us in our march through the 
Candian territory. 
Several kinds of precious stones and metallic substances, are 
found in the environs of Ruanelli ; and among the sand and 
gravel lining the banks of the river which ran in the front of 
our encampment, I picked up several pieces of very fine crys- 
tals, of different colours, which seemed to have been washed 
down from the neighbouring hills. On the opposite side of the 
river lies a valley encompassed with more gentle and less woody 
hills, than those on our side, ealled Ruanelli, or the place of pre- 
cious stones. Here they were formerly found in considerable 
plenty ; but since the impositions of his European conquerors, the 
king does not permit them to be dug up or looked for. The 
black people, Malabars, and others, who belonged to our detach- 
ment, were daily employed in searching among the sands of 
the river. General Macdowal shewed me a great variety of 
stones, and other curiosities, which these people had brought 
him. Among these I observed a black shining substance, re- 
sembling a petrified shell,, with which the Candians ornament 
their umbrellas made from the talipot tree. 
