402 Journal of the Embassy 
This important matter having been adjusted in this manner, 
and the time appointed for the first audience being come, the 
Adigar, with a numerous attendance, lighted by a great blaze 
of torches, (for audience is always given here by night) came to 
the edge of the river to conduct the general to the royal pre- 
sence. The general on his part crossed the river in the boats 
which were in readiness, attended by liis staff and the gentle- 
men belonging to the embassy, with an escort consisting of a 
subaltern and fifty Sepoys. He was then conducted by the 
Adigar about a mile and a half to the king’s palace. The road 
thither was up a steep hill, with narrow crooked paths. The 
capital was surrounded by thick thorny hedges, with gates of 
the same, called by the natives caravetties. The caravett}'- 
nearest Candy has a rampart and breast-work, on which some of 
their artillery v^as occasionally mounted. The resistance which 
it could make to the approach of a regular army is, however, 
very trifling : Candy is indebted for its principal fortifications 
to nature. 
The way up to the city was very fatiguing, and the escort 
was not a little incommoded by the crowd of natives who eagerly 
pressed to gaze at them. This circumstance, and the glare of 
the torches, prevented the general’s retinue from having an ac- 
curate view of the city. The embassy, on entering it, passed 
through one long and broad street to the palace. The houses, 
though low huts of themselves, appeared greatly elevated from 
being built upon high banks on each side of the street, which 
forms a kind of area below. At the further end of this street 
is a high wall enclosing the gardens which belong to the palace. 
After a short turn here to the left, the palace appeared stand- 
ing on the right. In front of it was a flight of stone steps, 
9 
