Storia do Mogor 276.1

276.1

The island of Ceilao (Ceylon) is very fertile, humid, and fresh, by reason of the rain which is always falling. It produces a quantity of fruit, cocos, and areca-palms, and the woods, for the greater part, are formed of fine canes, which the inhabitants use in their cooking. The mountains are full of crystals of many colours; the rivers are full of precious stones — rubies, sapphires, topazes, and other kinds. There are handsome elephants and an infinity of game. Although the Dutch are masters of some of the lands in that island, they enjoy no part of its riches beyond what they can acquire within reach of the sea.