m 
JOURNAL OF THE EMBASSY 
lay about the distance of two miles across the river. The 
natives seemed very much displeased at our bringing artil- 
lery into their country, or stirring beyond the limits of 
our camp, although permission had been obtained from the 
court of Candy to have this embassy more splendid and 
numerous than any which had preceded it, and although 
orders had been issued to give us the most friendly recep- 
tion. It was indeed reported, that the King found him- 
self at that time in rather a precarious situation, from 
the internal divisions and factions among his subjects ; which 
made him wish that the escort attending the embassy should 
be as strong as possible. But the Adi gar, who was a man 
of great power and intrigue, and, as we had reason to 
suspect, not very friendly to the English, had sufficient 
influence to over-rule several of the King’s orders, and in 
many instances to counteract his intentions. 
The weather continuing still unfavourable, and there being 
no prospect of procuring a sufficient number of people to 
carry the provisions and stores requisite for the whole escort, 
while the roads which lay between us and Candy were so 
dreadfully bad as to render any attempt to proceed with our 
baggage and artillery almost impracticable ; the General was 
induced by these circumstances to leave the artillery with 
the Europeans and the greater part of the native troops at 
this encampment, and to proceed to Candy escorted by two 
companies of Sepoys and the same number of the Malay 
regiment. Accordingly he gave out that he would cross the 
