TO MY READERS. My dear friends, should you perchance read this preface, it must be satisfactory for you to know that while the characters, (and story so far as there be one), in the following narrative are of the Author's creation, it contains not a single incident that has not fact for its basis. For the truthfulness of the descriptions of the natural history and productions of Ceylon, it is not necessary to vouch in this place, inasmuch as the names of my authorities will be found quoted in the text. London, November, 1860. WILLIAM DALTON. |