Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/435



''Their arrival at Colombo and entertainment there. Their departure thence to Batavia; and from thence to Bantam: whence they set sail for England.''

Being safely arrived at Colombo, before the ship came to an anchor; there came a barge on board to carry the Commander ashore. But it being late in the evening, and my consort being sick of an ague and fever; we thought it better for us to stay on board until the morning, so as to have a day before us.

The next morning, we bade the skipper farewell, and went ashore in the first boat: going straight to the Court of Guard; where all the soldiers came staring upon us, wondering to see white men in Cingalese habits. We asked them, if "there were no Englishmen among them." They told us, "there were none, but that in the city there were several." A trumpeter being hard by who had formerly sailed in English ships; hearing of us, came and invited us to his chamber: and entertained my consort being sick of his ague, in his own bed.

The strange news of our arrival from Kandy was presently spread all about the city, and all the Englishmen that were there immediately came to bid us welcome out of our long captivity: with whom we consulted how to come to speech of the Governor. Upon which, one of them went and acquainted the Captain of the Guard of our being on shore; which the Captain understanding, went and informed the Governor thereof. Who sent us answer that to-morrow we should come before him.

After my consort's fit was over; our countrymen and their friends invited us abroad to walk and see the city. We being barefooted and in Cingalese habit with great long beards; the people much wondered at us, and came flocking to see who and what we were; so that we had a great train of people about us, as we walked in the streets. And after