The Life and Adventures of John Christopher Wolf, Late Principal Secretary of State at Jaffanapatnam, in Ceylon; Together with a Description of That Island (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1785 Excerpt: ... mained quiet, performing my devotions in secret. We had been more than an hour in this dreadful condition, the Indians all the while swimming at a' distance, in expectation of seeing the vessel go down; when, observing that she was buoyant, just: as she was at first, they approached her again. Upon which the old fellow called to them in their language, desiring them to endeavour to bring back the rudder and come on board, as he imagined the rudder had received no great harm. In a very short time they were all on board again; and were welcomed with so many curses by the old man, my companion, that my very flesh crawled to hear him. I could not help speaking to him on this subject; and this naturally brought me to the subject of the rosary and invocation of iaints. But he directly took me up in these words; ' You are a wise man to be sure, if one may take your word for if; for I see very plainly, that you do not care a straw for either saint or rosary No doubt but that you are wiser than our priests. My good boy, take my advice, and let your beard grow a little before you meddle with these matters." In the mean time our vessel was got off again, and the wind was become tolerably favourable, so that we made about twelve miles that day. In the evening we ran as near shore as we could get, and threw oift two buoys with a stone fastened to the end of each. Early in the morning we continued our voyage, and arrived about noon, at a place called Kudermalle. Here we anchored again, and the whole crew went ashore in a wherry. The old man and I went with them, on purpose to view the consecrated tomb of a Pagan saint, which is to be seen there, and of which, my companion, after his wrath had cooled a little, had given me a descripF 2 tiou; tion; at the same time informi...