399 
to the Court of Candy. 
9th. Halted. Messages passed between the Adigar and the 
general, previous to the latter proceeding to Candy, which lay 
at a small distance. 
10th. Removed to a spot near the Malivagonga, and en- 
camped opposite the hill on which Candy is situated. A large 
body of Candians were posted on the other side of the river 
in view of the general’s encampment. No intercourse was al- 
lowed to be carried on between them and our people ; nor any 
of the escort allowed to quit the camp or examine the coun- 
try in the neighbourhood. The interviews and correspondeilce 
between the Adigar and the general were all conducted with 
the utmost solemnity, and with all those punctilious ceremonies 
which, according to their ideas, are matters of the highest im- 
portance. 
The attendants, and indeed the whole of the natives, seemed 
to be actuated by the same mysterious taciturnity ; so that 
little information was to be collected from them about the king 
or his politics. 
The general was now arrived at that place where it was de- 
termined he should reside while he transacted the business of 
his embassy. It might now seem that he had overcome the 
chief difficulties that lay in his way ; and that the fatigues of 
his tedious march vrould have been compensated by a frank re- 
ception and ready admittance into the royal presence. But it 
was the study of the Candians to impress the ambassador with 
the highest ideas of their dignity, and their condescension in 
receiving overtures from an European government. With this 
view, so many ceremonies attended the introduction into tire 
royal presence, that little business could be transacted; and 
such a space was allowed to elapse between each interview^ 
