Excerpt from Observations Made on a Tour From Bengal to Persia, in the Years 1786-7: With a Short Account of the Remains of the Celebrated Palace of Persepolis

Columbo, the chief refidency on the fame ifland the inhabitants, exceptingithe Dutch, are a mixture of r Ialabars and native Por tugueze but great numbers of the latter, efpecially of the lower clafs of people. There is a tolerable tavern here, the only one in the place; the living very cheap. Here is little trade at this place, excepting on account of the Dutch Company. Topazes, amethyfis, and other precious fiones, are found on the ifland of Ceylon, and brought here for fale; but it is dangerous to pur chafe them, when fet, without being {killed in thofe commodities, the people who fell them being very expert in making the faife flones appear like true ones, by colouring them at the bottom. N o kind of fpice, nutmegs, or any other rarities for which this ifland is To celebrated, are to be met with at this place nor did we, on our approach to the ifland, perceive any of thofe Odoriferous gales deferibed by, travellers, as exhaling from the cinnamon and other fpices with which this ifland abounds. The harbour is crrcular'; at the entrance of it lay many rocks, juft above thy furface of the water, which make it very dangerous for {trange {hips to go in, without a pilot the waves beat with amazing violence againft the fortifications. Along, and almof't all around the harbour, are the country houfes of the inhabitants, which have a pleating ef'feé't to the eye the road to thefe, by land, is. Through a grove of cocoa-nut trees, which forms an agreeable fhade. However, this place rnuft be very unhealthy, as very high hills lay clofe behind the houfes, and exhale noxious vapours both morning and evening, which make it very precari pus to the inhabitants in point of health they are in general fickly.

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