g
condition. Their humble representations of the great and general
misery which reigned among all ranks of people throughout the island
made no impression on his avaricious disposition; but all things went
on from bad to worse, till an account of his nefarious conduct was
transmitted to Holland. When informed of the distressed situation of
the inhabitants of Ceylon, the States-general sent out Mr Doembourgh
as governor, with orders to repair all past errors, and to treat the
natives with all possible tenderness and indulgence. On his arrival,
Versluys, after beggaring the whole nation, took it into his head that
they would defend him against his masters, and absolutely refused to
resign the government; and had even the insolency to fire upon
the Company's ships as they lay at anchor in the road of Columbo.
Doembourgh, however, immediately landed, and his authority was readily
recognised by all the Company's servants, and submitted to by the
people. He caused Versluys to be immediately arrested and sent to
Batavia, where a long criminal process was instituted against him, but
which was not concluded when our author left India.

Of all the Asiatic islands, Ceylon is perhaps the fairest and most
fertile. It lies to the S.E. of the peninsula of India on this side of
the Ganges, between the latitudes of 5 deg. 30' and 9 deg. N. and between
the longitudes of 79 deg. 45' and 82 deg. 12' E. so that it extends 70 marine
leagues from N. to S. and 49 leagues from E. to W. It is so fertile
and delicious, that many have believed it to have been the seat of the
terrestrial paradise; and the natives certainly believe this, for they
pretend to shew the tomb of Adam, and the print of his foot on the
mountain named the Peak of Adam,[1] one of the highest mountains
in the world. On another mountain there is a salt-lake, which the
inhabitants affirm was filled by the tears shed by Eve, while she wept
incessantly an hundred years for the death of Abel.

[Footnote 1: This gross absurdity is not worth contesting; but the
fact is, that the real natives, the idolaters of the interior, refer
both the tomb and the footmark to their false god, or lawgiver,
Bodh.--E.]

The principal places in Ceylon are Jafnapatam, Trinkamaly, Baracola,
Punta de Galla, Columbo, Negombo, Sitavaca, and Candy. The Dutch East
India Company are possessed of all the coasts of the island, and ten
or twelve leagues within the land, and most of the before-mentioned
town