An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies

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DigiCat, Aug 15, 2022 - Travel - 308 pages
DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies" by Robert Knox. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.
 

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Contents

TOGETHER
ERRATA
CHAP IV
CHAP VI
PART II

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About the author (2022)

Robert Knox (1641–1720) was an English sea captain in the service of the British East India Company. Knox is best recognized for his authorship of 'An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies' (1681), a detailed account of his experiences during his nineteen-year captivity on the island of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. After being captured by the king's forces, Knox and his crew were unable to leave the island until their eventual escape in 1679. Knox's work is esteemed for its extensive ethnographic details, comprehensive descriptions of the island's geography, culture, flora, and fauna, as well as for the insights into the political and social organization of the Kandyan kingdom at that time. His descriptions of Ceylonese life and customs were drawn from his unique perspective as both an observer and, in effect, a participant within the cultural milieu of the island. Knox's writing style—methodical, yet interspersed with personal anecdotes—provides a compelling narrative that balances scholarly observations with human interest. An essential resource for historians of South Asia, 'An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon' stands as a significant work of early English travel literature, contributing to the early European understanding of Asian societies and laying the groundwork for colonial ethnography.

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