TO THE COURT OF CANDY. 
3 97 
brought them that we had set forward on our route from 
Colunibo to Sittivacca, than they immediately , began to as- 
semble in great numbers on their frontiers, under the idea 
that we were approaching with hostile intentions. A message 
from the King however removed their apprehensions on this 
head ; and at the same time those militia received orders im- 
mediately to join the regular troops, and in no wise to ob- 
struct or molest us in our march through the Candiaix 
territory. 
Several kinds of precious stones and metallic substances 
are found in the environs of Ruanelli ; and among the sand 
and gravel lining the banks of the river which ran in the front 
of our encampment, I picked up several pieces of very fine 
crystals, of different colours, which seemed to have been 
washed down from the neighbouring hills. On the opposite 
side of the river lies a valley encompassed with more gentle 
and less woody hills, than those on our side, called Ruanelli, 
or the place of precious stones. Here they were formerly 
found in considerable plenty ; but since the impositions of his 
European conquerors, the King does not permit them to be 
dug up or looked for. The black people, Malabars, and 
others, who belonged to our detachment, were daily em- 
ployed in searching among the sands of the river. General 
Macdowal shewed me a great variety of stones, and other 
curiosities, which these people had brought him. Among 
these I observed a black shining substance, resembling a- 
