a sure sign to us that
there was a Town hard by; into which we were resolved to enter. For
standing thus amazed, was the ready way to be taken up for suspitious
persons; especially because White men never come down so low.

[The People stand amazed at them.] Being entred into this Town,
we sate our selves under a Tree, and proclaimed our Wares, for we
feared to rush into their Yards, as we used to do in other places,
lest we should scare them. The People stood amazed as soon as they
saw us, being originally Malabars, tho Subjects of Cande. Nor could
they understand the Chingulay Language in which we spake to them. And
we stood looking one upon another until there came one that could
speak the Chingulay Tongue: Who asked us, from whence we came? We
told him, From Cande Uda. But they believed us not, supposing that
we came up from the Dutch from Manaar. So they brought us before
their Governor. [They are examined by the Governour of the Place.] He
not speaking Chingulais, spake to us by an Interpreter. And to know
the truth, whether we came from the place we pretended, he inquired
about News at Court; demanded, Who were Governors of such and such
Countreys? and what was become of some certain Noble-men, whom the
King had lately cut off? and also What the common people were employed
about at Court, for it is seldom that they are idle. To all which we
gave satisfactory answers. Then he enquired of us, Who gave us leave
to come down so low? We told him That priviledg was given to us by
the King himself full Fifteen Years since at his Palace at Nellemby,
when he caused it to be declared unto us, that we were no longer
prisoners, and (which indeed was our own addition) that we were free
to enjoy the benefit of Trade in all his Dominions.

To prove and confirm the truth of which, we alledged the distance of
the Way that we were now come from home, being near an hundred miles,
passing thro several Counties, where we met with several Governors
and Officers in their respective Jurisdictions; who had they not been
well sensible of these Priviledges granted us, would not have allowed
us to pass thro their Countries. All which Officers we described to
him by name; and also that now we came from the High Sheriff's House
at Colliwilla, where we had been these three dayes, and there heard
of the Order that was come to secure the Watches; which was not for
fear of the running away of White men, but of the Chingulayes. These
Reasons gav