[The People how governed.] The People are in great subjection under him:  they pay him rather greater Taxes than the Chingulays do to their King.  But he is nothing so cruel.  He Victualleth his Soldiers during the time they are upon the Guard, either about the Palace or abroad in the Wars:  they are now fed at his Charge:  whereas ’tis contrary in the King’s Countrey; for the Chingulay Soldiers bear their own Expences.  He hath a certain rate out of every Land that is sown, which is to maintain his Charge.

[Their Commodities and Trade.] The Commodities of this Countrey are, Elephants, Hony, Butter, Milk, Wax, Cows, wild Cattel:  of the three last great abundance.  As for Corn it is more scarce than in the Chingulays Countrey; neither have they any Cotton.  But they come up into Neure Caulava yearly with great droves of Cattel, and lade both Corn and Cotton.  And to buy these they bring up Cloth made of the same Cotton, which they can make better than the Chingulays; also they bring Salt and Salt Fish, and brass Basons, and other Commodities, which they get of the Hollander:  because the King permits not his People to have any manner of Trade with the Hollander; so they receive the Dutch Commodities at the second hand.

[Concerning the Portugueze.  Their Power and Interest in this Island formerly.] We now proceed unto the Europaean Nations.  And we begin with the Portugueze, who deserve the first place, being the oldest Standers there.

The Sea-Coasts round about the Island were formerly under their Power and Government, and so held for many years.  In which time many of the Natives became Christians, and learned the Portugueze Tongue.  Which to this day is much spoken in that Land:  for even the King himself understands and speaks it excellently well.  The Portugueze have often made Invasions throughout the whole Land, even to Cande the Metropolis of the Island.  Which they have burnt more than once, with the Palace and the Temples:  and so formidable have they been, that the King hath been forced to turn Tributary to them, paying them three Elephants per Annum.  However the middle of this Island, viz.  Cand’ Uda, standing upon Mountains, and so strongly fortified, by Nature, could never be brought into subjection by them, much less by any other, but hath always been under the Power of their own Kings.

[The great Wars between the King and them, force him to send in for the Hollanders.] There were great and long Wars between the King of Ceilon and the Portugueze:  and many of the brave Portugal Generals are still in memory among them:  of whom I shall relate some passages presently.  Great vexation they gave the King by their irruptions into his Dominions, and the Mischiefs they did him, tho oftentimes with great loss on their side.  Great Battels have been lost and won between them, with great destruction of Men on both parts.  But being greatly distressed at last, he sent and called in the Hollander to his aid.  By whose reasonable assistance together with his own Arms, the King totally disposessed the Portugueze, and routed them out of the Land.  Whose rooms the Dutch now occupy, paying themselves for their pains.