THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, 
9 
into our possession, its internal produce presented several rich 
articles to commerce. Any attempt therefore to throw light on 
the present state of the island, and thus to point out the means 
of improving its internal cultivation, and securing it against the 
attacks of external enemies, would at least have the merit of 
aiming at a national benefit. 
With these objects in view I continued my enquiries ; and was 
fortunate enough to have every opportunity in the prosecution of 
them which the present situation of the island affords. Daring 
a residence of three years I visited almost every part of the sea- 
coast ; and before I left the island, I was become quite familiar 
with its general appearance, its natural productions, the present 
state of its cultivation, and the manners and dispositions of its 
inhabitants. On an embassy being sent to wait upon the native 
king of the island, I was also among those officers who were 
appointed to accompany it; and by this means had an opportu- 
nity of observing the interior of the country, into which the jea- 
lousy of the natives has seldom permitted any European to 
penetrate. 
I lie advantages which I derived from personally visiting the 
greater part of the island, were very much improved by the 
assistance of Mr. Dormieux, a Dutch gentleman, in the English 
service, who had resided upwards of twenty years in Ceylon, 
and had during that period acquired a complete knowledge both 
of the manners and language of its several inhabitants. By his 
means, therefore, I was enabled to get over many obstacles which 
presented themselves to my researches ; and the valuable commu- 
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