CL 5 4 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
greatly to prevent the excesses of arbitrary government. 
The present king is by far the mildest prince that lias 
ever hitherto reigned over the Candians. He appears to 
be much attached to us, although the Adigar is said to 
look upon us with a jealous eye. 
The king of Candy affects to be the greatest prince in 
the whole world, and endeavours, by the state he main- 
tains to make good his pretensions. He is the only prince 
in India, or, as the Candians tell you, in the whole world, 
who wears a crown. 
When the king appears in public, he is always attended 
with what in the eyes of a Candian appears magnificence, 
although to an European it may seem scarcely deserving 
that name. He seldom makes use of a horse or elephant, 
but is generally carried in a palankeen. A number of his 
guards and persons of the first rank always accompany him; 
while a profusion of flags and streamers of white calico 
or cloth, are carried before the procession. In these are 
painted or wove of a red colour figures of the sun, of 
elephants, tygers, dragons, and many other hideous creatures. 
The richest of them, however, though sufficient to dazzle 
the natives of Candy, are no better than the colours of a 
marching regiment. 
Loud noise, which seems to enter into all the ideas of 
grandeur among a barbarous people is nevef omitted in the 
train of the monarch. His progress is always attended by 
jf, number of performers on various instruments, such as 
