CANDY, a large kingdom of Asia, in the island of Ceylon. It contains about a quarter of the island; and as it is encompassed with high mountains, and covered with thick forests, through which the roads and paths are narrow and difficult, the king had them guarded to prevent his subjects from going into other countries. It is full of hills, from whence rivulets proceed which are full of fish; but as they run among the rocks, they are not fit for boats: however, the inhabitants are very dexterous in turning them to water their land, which is fruitful in rice, pulse, and hemp.
Since the island of Ceylon fell into the hands of the English, we have obtained fuller information respecting it. Mr Percival, who has published an account of this island, mentions the jealousy, both of the Dutch and of the natives, as difficulties which could not have been easily surmounted by travellers while it remained subject to Holland. "The interior of the island (he says), owing to the jealousy of the Dutch, has been little explored by Europeans; and any traveller who might have obtained the permission of the Dutch to visit it, could not have executed his purpose from the jealousy of the natives. Since the Candians have been driven by their invaders into the mountains of the interior, it has been their policy carefully to prevent any European from seeing those objects which might tempt the avarice of his countrymen, or from observing the approaches by which an army could penetrate their mountains. If an European by any accident was carried into their territories, they took every precaution to prevent him from escaping; and the guards, stationed everywhere at the approaches, joined to the wide and pathless woods which divide the interior from the coast, rendered such an attempt almost completely desperate. When an ambassador was sent from any European government to the king of Candy, he was watched with all that strictness and jealousy which the suspicious temper of uncivilized nations dictates. In an embassy which I attended to the court of that monarch, I had an opportunity of observing how careful the natives were to prevent strangers from making any observations. Mr Boyd, who about twenty years ago went on a similar embassy, was watched with the same particular circumspection; and has therefore been able to add little to our stock of knowledge concerning the interior.
"The dominions of the native prince are completely cut off on all sides from those of the Europeans, by almost impenetrable woods and mountains. The passes which lead through these to the coasts are extremely steep and difficult, and scarcely known even by the natives themselves. As soon as we advance from ten to twenty miles from the coasts, a country presents itself greatly differing from the sea-coast, both in soil, climate, and appearance. After ascending the mountains and passing the woods, we find ourselves in the midst of a country not advanced many stages beyond the
candy. the first state of improvement, and which we are astonished to find in the neighbourhood of the highly cultivated fields which surround Colombo. As we advance towards the centre of the island, the country gradually rises, and the woods and mountains which separate the several parts of the country become more steep and impervious.
"It is in the midst of these fastnesses that the native prince still preserves those remains of territory and power which have been left him by successive invaders. His dominions are now much reduced in size: for besides the whole of the sea-coasts which were of any value, the Dutch, in their various attacks during the last century, have contrived to get into their power every tract from which they could derive either emolument or security. Those provinces which still remain to him, are Nourecalva and Hotourly towards the north and north-west; while Matuly, comprehending the districts of Bintana, Velas, and Panaa, with a few others, occupy those parts more to the eastward. To the south-east lies Ouvvah, a province of some note, and giving the king one of his titles. The western parts are chiefly included in the provinces of Cotemal and Hotteracorley. These different provinces are subdivided into corles or districts, and entirely belong to the native prince. It is needless to recount the names of those divisions which stretch towards the sea-coast, and are now chiefly in our possession.
"In the highest and most central part of the native king's dominions, lie the corles or counties of Oudanor and Tatanour, in which are situated the two principal cities. These countries take the pre-eminence of all the rest, and are both better cultivated, and more populous, than any of the other districts, and are distinguished by the general name of Condé Udda; condé or candé in the native language signifying a mountain, and udda the greatest or highest.
Ceylon fell into the hands of the British in 1796; and in 1802 a war originated with the Candians. The British took possession of the capital, and placed a new prince on the throne; but the military force being reduced by the climate, and the Candians being in arms, the place was given up by capitulation, in defiance of which, however, the British were massacred. Another British force again reduced the chief town in 1815, and in 1816 the kingdom was annexed to the British dominions. The Candians revolted in 1818, but were subdued after a considerable struggle.