THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
2(fi> 
noting the profession of the bearer: the passport for a mili- 
tary man represents a soldier with a pike or gun on his 
shoulder; that for a peasant, a labourer with a stick across 
his shoulder, and a bag or wallet attached to each end of 
it : the passport of an European has impressed on it the 
figure of a man with a hat on his head and a sword by his 
side. These precautions are strictly enforced and completely 
serve the intended purpose : but it would be needless even in 
the most jealous prince to throw any more obstacles in the 
way of communication and intercourse, than is interposed by 
nature, especially when we consider that the king allows none 
of the woods to be cleared away, nor any roads to be made 
through his dominions. His apprehension of intrusion from 
strangers, except when he is at war with the Europeans, is 
no better grounded ; as even the native Cinglese of the coasts, 
are so possessed with an opinion of the fatality of the cli- 
mate in the interior, that they think with terror of approach- 
ing it. This we learnt to our cost in the embassy to the 
Court of Candy, when the Cinglese peasants who were em- 
ployed in conveying our guns and baggage deserted us in 
such a manner that we w r ere obliged to leave the greater 
part behind. 
The narrow paths which lead through the W’oods and 
mountains of the Candians, are indeed sufficient for all the 
purposes of the natives, as they universally traveL afoot. To 
ride a horseback is a royal privilege ; and a privilege seldom 
made use of by the monarch himself. There are indeed no 
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