THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
43 
every vessel which is caught by them in any other part of the 
bay of Bengal, is obliged immediately to put to sea to prevent 
inevitable destruction. At these seasons Trincomalee and Bom- 
bay alone, of all the ports on the different coasts of the penin- 
sula of India, are capable of affording a safe retreat. The 
incalculable advantages to be derived from such a harbour, 
are increased by its proximity and easy access to our settle- 
ments in the bay of Bengal. A vessel from Madras may arrive 
here in two days, and can at any time make the harbour. 
These circumstances point out Trincomalee as an object of 
particular attention to our government, and of far more con- 
sequence to retain than the whole of the rest of the island. 
It will, however, require great encouragement, and many im- 
provements to render the town populous or anywise equal to 
Columbo. For the country around is not by any means so 
fertile as to tempt settlers to reside here, nor are the natural 
productions calculated to attract commerce. The climate has 
also been looked upon as the hottest and most unhealthy of 
the whole island ; and both the 72d and 80th regiments suffered 
severely from it on their first arrival. These noxious qualities 
of the climate were owing in a great measure to the woods and 
marshes which come up to the very fort, and which the Dutch 
had never sufficient policy or public spirit to remove. Since 
the place has been in our possession, a very proper system has 
been adopted to render the climate wholesome. Colonel Cham- 
pagne, while stationed here with the 80th regiment, cleared a 
large tract of ground, in the neighbourhood of the fort, of the 
