Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/395

 The price of this land was five and twenty larees, that is, five dollars, a great sum of money in the account of this country: yet—thanks be to God! who had so far enabled me after my late and great loss—I was strong enough to lay this down. The terms of purchase being concluded on between us, a writing was made upon a leaf after that country's manner, witnessed by seven or eight men of the best quality in the town, which was delivered to me; and I paid the money, and then took possession of the land. It lies some ten miles to the southward of the city of Kandy in the county of Oodanowera, in the town of Elledat.

Now I went about building a house upon my land, and was assisted by three of my countrymen that dwelt near by; ROGER GOLD, RALPH KNIGHT, and STEPHEN RUTLAND: and in a short time, we finished it. The country people were all well pleased to see us thus busy ourselves about buying of land, and building of houses; thinking it would tie our minds the faster to their country, and make us think the less upon our own.

Though I had built my new house, yet durst I not yet leave my old quarters in Lagoondenia, but waited until a more convenient time fell out for that purpose. I went away therefore to my old home; and left my aforesaid three English neighbours to inhabit it in my absence.

Not long after, I found a fit season to be gone to my estate at Elledat: and upon my going the rest [of the four] left the town [of Lagoondenia] also, and went and dwelt elsewhere; each one lived where he best liked. But by this means, we all lost a privilege which we had before; which was, that our victuals were brought unto us: and now we were forced to go and fetch them ourselves; the people alleging, truly enough, that they were not bound to carry our provisions about the country after us.

Being settled in my new house, I began to plant ground full of all sorts of fruit trees, which, by the blessing of God, all grew and prospered, and yielded me plenty and good increase; sufficient both for me and those that dwelt with me: for the three Englishmen I left at my house when I departed back to Lagoondenia, still lived with me.

We were all single men, and we agreed very well together,