THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
2 
made during their stay in the island. Few, indeed, of that 
nation were anxious to inquire into the history either of the 
country, or its inhabitants. The desire of increasing their wealth 
was with them the ruling passion ; and while they could carry on 
their commerce in the towns on the sea-coast, they concerned 
themselves very little with the interior of the island. Many 
Dutchmen, even of the better sort, had resided on Ceylon for a 
considerable number of years, without having ever been so much 
as a few leagues from the coast. Even those sent to command 
there were seldom men of enlightened minds; and provided 
they could secure their own interests, they were unwilling to 
occupy their attention with the prosecution of plans which might 
have been productive of national benefits. 
All these causes conspired to render the accounts which Euro- 
peans possessed of this island, exceedingly imperfect ; and I was 
soon convinced that the narrow policy of the Dutch government, 
and the selfish views of their officers, had made them overlook 
many things which tended greatly to increase the value of the 
colony. As it was now in our possession, these ideas made a 
forcible inipression on my mind ; and the hope that 1 might con- 
tribute to render this new acquisition more valuable to my coun- 
try, gave new eagerness to my researches. The vast importance 
of the island both in a commercial and political view made me 
confident that it would not be given up at any future peace ; for 
with the exception of Bombay, it contains the only harbour 
either on the Coromandel or Malabar coasts, in which ships can 
moor in safety at all seasons of the year ; and even before it came 
