a large island in the East Indies, about 250 miles in length and 200 in breadth. The air is very good; the country full of mountains, but interspersed with fertile valleys; and it is remarkable for producing excellent cinnamon. Some places are rich mines of sapphires, rubies, topazes, and cats' eyes, besides other stones of less value. There is also plenty of wood for dyeing, and all other uses. The animals are cows, buffaloes, goats, hogs, tygers, monkeys, &c. They have large elephants, and monstrous serpents which are very dangerous. The island is also infested with ants, which do a great deal of mischief. It lies from E. Long. 78° to 82° and from N. Lat. 6° to 10°.

The conquest of this island was the first attempt of Albuquerque the celebrated Portuguese admiral. He found it well peopled, and inhabited by two different nations, the Bedar inhabiting the northern, and the Ginglaffes who dwelt in the southern parts. The former were very barbarous, but the latter a good deal more polished. Besides the advantages already mentioned, which these nations derived from their mines of precious stones, they carried on the greatest pearl-fishery in the East. These nations the Portuguese conquered, and tyrannized over in such a manner, that they afflicted the Dutch in expelling them from the island; and by their united efforts this was accomplished in 1658, after a bloody and obstinate war. All the Portuguese settlements fell into the hands of the Dutch East India company, who still keep possession of them, excepting a small district on the Eastern coast without any port, from whence the sovereign of the country had his seat. These settlements formed a regular track, extending from two to twelve leagues into the inland parts of the island. The company have appropriated all the productions of the island. The several articles of trade are, 1. Amethysts, sapphires, topazes, and rubies; the last are very small, and very indifferent. The Moors who come from the coast of Coromandel buy them, paying a moderate tax; and when they are cut, sell them at a low price in the different countries of India. 2. Pepper, which the company buy for about 4d. per pound; coffee for which they only pay 2d. and cardamom which has no fixed price. These articles are all of an inferior quality, and through the indolence of the inhabitants will never turn to any account. 3. An hundred bales of handkerchiefs, pagnes, and gingham, of a fine red colour, which are fabricated by the Malabars at Jafranapatan. 4. A small quantity of ivory, and about 50 elephants, which are carried to the coast of Coromandel. 5. Areca, which the company buys at about 8s. 9d. the ammonian, and sells on the spot at L. 13s. to the merchants of Bengal, Coromandel, and the Maldives; who give in return rice, coarse linen, and cowries. 6. The pearl-fishery, which was formerly of great consequence; but is now so much exhausted as not to bring in more than L. 8,750 per annum. 7. After all, the great object of the company is cinnamon. They purchase the greatest part of their cinnamon of the Indians who are subject to them, and, all expenses deducted, it does not cost them above 6d. per pound. The annual expenses of the colony may amount to about L. 96,250; their revenues and small branches of commerce produce only about L. 87,500. This deficiency must be supplied out of the profits arising from the cinnamon trade; and they are obliged to provide for the expenses of the wars in which they are frequently engaged with the king of Candy, who is at present the sole sovereign of the island. These are very detrimental to the interests of the Hollanders; for which reason they endeavoured to engage the good will of this monarch by shewing him all imaginable civilities. The harmony, however, has been often interrupted. In a bloody war which terminated on the 14th of February 1766, the Ceylonese monarch was driven from his capital, so that the Dutch made a very advantageous treaty. Their sovereignty was acknowledged over all that part of the country they possessed before the troubles broke out; and that part of the coasts held by the natives was ceded to them. They were allowed to gather cinnamon in all the plains; and the court was to sell them the best sort which is produced in the mountains, at the rate of L. 1 : 16 : 1, for 18½. The government engaged to have no connection with any foreign power; and even to deliver up any Europeans who may happen to stray into the island. In return for many concessions, the king was to receive annually the value of the produce of the ceded coasts; and from thence his subjects were to be furnished gratis with as much salt as they had occasion for. The Ceylonese are in the most miserable situation: they are in a state of total inactivity; live in huts without any furniture; and subsist upon fruits; those who are the most affluent have no other covering than a piece of coarse linen wrapped about their waist.

CHACE. See Chase.