TO THE COURT OF CANDY. 
579 
17 tli. About two o’clock the General ordered the guns 
with two companies of Sepoys and the pioneers to pro- 
ceed about six miles farther ; as the next day’s march was 
long, and the fatigues which the men would have to en- 
counter from being exposed to the heat of the sun, would 
be greatly encreased if they should be obliged to accompany 
the artillery, winch on account of the badness of the roads 
could proceed but very slowly. 
18th. The escort set of very early in the morning, and 
marched fourteen miles to Sittivacca. The road was exceed- 
ingly hilly and difficult, full of ascents and descents, and 
often obliged to wind among the vallies which intersect the 
hills, as the impenetrable thickets on each side prevent any 
passage but by the beaten tract. 
Sittivacca presents as beautiful and romantic an appearance 
as any spot in Ceylon. It is famous for being the chief 
theatre of intercourse, both friendly and hostile, between 
the Candians and their European neighbours. Here many 
bloody battles were fought by the natives against the Portu- 
guese and Dutch ; here their treaties, or rather truces, have 
been repeatedly signed ; and this was the spot usually chosen 
for the interviews of the European with the Native Ambas- 
sadors. It is the last station belonging to us in this quarter, 
and is separated from the King’s country only by a large 
branch of the Mullivaddy river, which winds around here in 
several directions, and is joined by a branch of the Maliva- 
gonga a little below this place. 
3 c 2 
