a little while we were becalmed, but a light sea breeze sprang up and carried us into the bay. Captain Turner of the Trident was so kind as to send us one of his boats, in which we landed at two o'clock, when we found the governor, the commandant, colonel Champagné, and all the garrison in their usual health, and were received by them with the most gratifying hospitality and most affectionate kindness.

VOL. T.

M M

266

CHAPTER IX.

DESCRIPTION OF TRINCOMALLEE-HOT WELLS OF CANNIAJOURNEY FROM TRINCOMALLEE TO ARIPO, MANAAR, AND

JAFFNAPATAM.

WE are now arrived at the most important station on the coast of Ceylon, possessing that noble and commanding harbour, which alone renders the island so valuable as a protection to our Indian commerce, and a security to the British empire in the east. Trincomallee is situate in 8° 28'. north latitude, and 81° 28'. east longitude. From its centrical position, and the easy ingress and egress which it affords at all seasons, it is better adapted for being made a marine depot, and a rendezvous for his Majesty's squadrons, than any other station in India. At Bombay the navy are removed entirely out of the way of affording any protection to trade, and for six months in the year a great lapse of time is required before they can come round to the opposite coast of the peninsula: at Calcutta, or in the river Hoogly, they are placed exactly under

similar circumstances. The total want of shelter on the coasts of Coromandel and Malabar renders a free access to the port of Trincomallee a most momentous object. At seasons when ships cannot look into the road of Madras, nor shew a sail off the mouths of the Ganges, they are here presented with a sure refuge. The naval power that commands this harbour may keep all Asia in awe, and easily intercept the trade of other nations to and from every corner of Hindoostan.

But notwithstanding the advantages attached to its local situation, Trincomallee has been treated with more marked neglect than any other of the Dutch settlements in Ceylon. The soil is naturally arid, the air sometimes noxious, and the colonists from Holland neither studied to increase the fertility of the one nor the salubrity of the other. The jealous policy of their government declined the visits of strangers, and kept the country in its original barrenness, that the convenience of the harbour, obscured by the appearance of an ungrateful climate, might be less apt to attract the attention of a rival power. Yet the district, although uncultivated, does not possess a soil unfavourable to vegetation, if any judgment can be formed from the luxuriance of the shrubs, which spring every where spontaneously. Two species of palms, the cocos and borassus, flourish in full vigour. And several British officers have raised excellent vegetables in their gardens, without any extraordinary ex