s. These and such like meditations, together with my
Prayers to God, kept me from that unequal Yoke of Unbeleivers, which
several of my Countrey men and fellow Prisoners put themselves under.

[What employments they follow.] By this time our People having
plyed their Business hard, had almost knit themselves out of work;
and now Caps were become a very dead Commodity, which was the chief
stay they had heretofore to trust to. So that now most of them betook
themselves to other employments; some to Husbandry, Plowing Ground,
and sowing Rice, and keeping Cattle, others stilled Rack to sell,
others went about the Country a Trading. For that which one part of
the Land affords is a good Commodity to carry to another that wants
it. And thus with the help of a little allowance, they make a shift
to subsist. Most of their Wives spin Cotton yarn, which is a great
help to them for cloathing, and at spare times also knit.

[The respect and credit they live in.] After this manner by the
blessing of God our Nation hath lived and still doth, in as good
fashion as any other People or Nation whatsoever, that are Strangers
here, or as any of the Natives themselves, only the Grandees and
Courtiers excepted. This I speak to the Praise and Glory of our God;
who loves the Stranger in giving him Food and Raiment; and that hath
been pleased to give us Favour and a good Repute in the sight of our
Enemies. We cannot complain for want of justice in any wrongs we have
sustained by the People; or that our cause hath been discountenanced;
but rather we have been favoured above the Natives themselves.

[A Chingulay punished for beating an English man.] One of our men
happened to be beaten by his Neighbour. At which we were all very
much concerned, taking it as a reproach to our Nation, and fearing
it might embolden others to do the like by the rest of us. Therefore
with joint consent we all concluded to go to the Court to complain,
and to desire satisfaction from the Adigar. Which we did. Upon this
the man who had beat the English man was summoned in to appear before
him. Who seeing so many of us there, and fearing the cause will go
very hard with him, to make the Judg his friend, gave him a bribe. He
having received it would have shifted off the Punishment of the
Malefactor. But we day after day followed him from house to Court,
and from place to place, where-ever he went, demanding Justice and
Satisfaction for the wrong we received, shewing the b