[The People stand amazed at them.] Being entred into this Town, we sate our selves under a Tree, and proclaimed our Wares, for we feared to rush into their Yards, as we used to do in other places, lest we should scare them.  The People stood amazed as soon as they saw us, being originally Malabars, tho Subjects of Cande.  Nor could they understand the Chingulay Language in which we spake to them.  And we stood looking one upon another until there came one that could speak the Chingulay Tongue:  Who asked us, from whence we came?  We told him, From Cande Uda.  But they believed us not, supposing that we came up from the Dutch from Manaar.  So they brought us before their Governor. [They are examined by the Governour of the Place.] He not speaking Chingulais, spake to us by an Interpreter.  And to know the truth, whether we came from the place we pretended, he inquired about News at Court; demanded, Who were Governors of such and such Countreys? and what was become of some certain Noble-men, whom the King had lately cut off? and also What the common people were employed about at Court, for it is seldom that they are idle.  To all which we gave satisfactory answers.  Then he enquired of us, Who gave us leave to come down so low?  We told him That priviledg was given to us by the King himself full Fifteen Years since at his Palace at Nellemby, when he caused it to be declared unto us, that we were no longer prisoners, and (which indeed was our own addition) that we were free to enjoy the benefit of Trade in all his Dominions.

To prove and confirm the truth of which, we alledged the distance of the Way that we were now come from home, being near an hundred miles, passing thro several Counties, where we met with several Governors and Officers in their respective Jurisdictions; who had they not been well sensible of these Priviledges granted us, would not have allowed us to pass thro their Countries.  All which Officers we described to him by name; and also that now we came from the High Sheriff’s House at Colliwilla, where we had been these three dayes, and there heard of the Order that was come to secure the Watches; which was not for fear of the running away of White men, but of the Chingulayes.  These Reasons gave him full satisfaction, that we were innocent Traders, seeing also the Commodities that we had brought with us:  this further confirmed his opinion concerning us.

[Provide things necessary for their flight.] The People were very glad of our coming, and gave us an end of an open house to ly in:  but at present they had no dryed Flesh, but desired us to stay two or three days and we should not fail:  which we were very ready to consent to, hoping by that time to come to the knowledg of the way, and to learn where about the watch was placed.  To Prevent the least surmise that we were Plotting to run away, we agreed, that Stephen should stay in the house by the things, while I with some few went abroad; pretending to enquire