[An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies by Robert Knox]@TWC D-Link book
An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies

PART IV
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So we made a stand, and in the Chingulay Language asked their leave to come near to treat with them, but they did not understand it.

But being risen up spake to us in the Malabar Tongue, which we could not understand.

Then still standing at a distance we intimated our minds to them by signs, beckoning with our hand: which they answered in the same Language.

Then offering to go towards them, and seeing them to be naked men and no Arms near them, we laid our Axes upon the ground with our Bags, lest we might scare them, if we had come up to them with those weapons in our hands, and so went towards them with only our Knives by our sides: by signs with our hands shewing them our bloody Backs we made them understand whence we came, and whither we were going.

Which when they perceived they seemed to commiserate our condition, and greatly to admire at such a Miracle which God had brought to pass: and as they talked one to another they lifted up their hands and faces towards Heaven, often repeating Tombrane which is God in the Malabar Tongue.
[They are courteous to them.] And by their signs we understood they would have us bring our Bags and Axes nearer; which we had no sooner done, but they brought the Rice and Herbs which they had boiled for themselves to us, and bad us eat; which we were not fitted to do, having not long before eaten a hearty Dinner of better fare; yet could not but thankfully accept of their compassion and kindness, and eat as much as we could; and in requital of their courtesie, we gave them some of our Tobacco.


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