A Jesuit Father's Description of Ceylon in the year 1613 A.D.

(http://www.royalasiaticsociety.lk/gallery/antique-prints-maps-inscriptions/)

By Chryshane Mendis

This is a summary of contents of the letter of Father Manoel Barradas, published in the Monthly Literary Register, Vol. IV, New Series, Jan-Dec 1896 and translated by D. W. Ferguson.

The letter of Fr. Barradas was printed in tom. I of the Historia Tragico-maritima of Bernado Gomes de Brito (Lisdon, 1735) with the following title page:

"Relação da Viagem, e successo, que tiveraco as naos Aguia, e Garea vindo da India para estc Reyno anno de 1559 [then comes a vignette of a shipwreck] Comhuma descripcao da Cidade de Columbo enviada a outro Padre da Companhia morador en Lisboa"

Its primary importance is the description of the city of Colombo in the year 1613 and then details the places he traveled. The year of this letter was calculated from the details he provides, as 1613. Below in point form are the main areas of its content. I give this in hope that it might help the student of history to get a quick glance of any particular area that is required. From where he or she can then proceed to refer the entire work. I obtained this information from the copy at the National Museum Library. The Royal Asiatic Society and the PGIAR Library does not have a copy of this particular Monthly Literary Register.

In order as per the letter:

• "On the 16th of March [1613] we left Cochin in a small ship of the General of Ceilao D. Franscisco de Menezes...At last, supposing, when they left, that the voyage would last six or seven days, they arrived on the 19th at Columbo, which is in the island of Ceilao; and what the fathers saw there, and what there is therein, I shall relate"
• Describes the City of Colombo.
• Deviates from Colombo and describes Alligators.
• Once again describes Colombo.
• Explains about Cinnamon.
• Once again describes Colombo.
• Speaks about Elephants in great detail and about Palm trees.
• Describes a military excursion into Kandy.
• Goes to Moratuwa and describes a wedding and Fishing practices of the Karava.
• Talks about the island's forests.
• Describes how they went by canal from Colombo to Negombo.
• Briefly states the story of Marcellus de Boschhouwer, the Dutch envoy to Kandy in 1612 and how he asked to be Captain of Negombo.
• Describes his visit to Mattegama, the capital of the Seven Korales and describes the town and other cultural observations.
• Then goes to Madampe and describes his experience there - cultural aspects of the society.
• Then goes to Chillaw and Munneswaram, where he describes  an incident of a Python that attacked a dog and how a 16 year old boy killed the snake with an arrow.
• Goes to Kalpitiya and Karaittivu.
• Finally describes his journey to Mannar and how they camped the night in a forest and of the animals and trade in that region.