NOTES. 297 



The illustration shows the full size of the medal. The grantee 

 was a grandson of the great Tennekon Disawa, described by Knox 

 as one of Raja Sinha II. 's " greatest and most valiant Generals, 

 and that had been notably successful against the Dutch." The 

 Gajanayaka was the head of the Elephant Department, and under 

 the Sinhalese Kings ranked amongst the three highest household 

 officers. The Dutch word translated Superintendent was the 

 equivalent of the Sinhalese Vidane. A Vidane was in charge of 

 each of the royal villages, and till lately there was such a Vidane 

 over Ambatalenpahala near Colombo. The reference to coffee 

 culture at such an early date is of interest. 



Plate III. — Obverse. — The inscription reads thus in English : — By 

 me, Julius Valentyn Stein van Gollenesse, Chief Councillor and 

 Director-General of the Dutch Indies, and departing Governor and 

 Director of the Island of Ce3don: having, as justice requires, con- 

 sidered the good and faithful services in various capacities to the 

 Hon'ble Company during our eight years' presence in this Island, 

 of Philip Philipsz Widjejecoon Panditeratne , Maha Modliaar and 

 Chief Interpreter of Our Gate, so are we moved to confirm and 

 secure among his descendants b}^ this medal our good disposition 

 towards him. Given in the Fort of Colombo, 5th March, 1751. 



The reverse is not illustrated here. It also bears the customary 

 vessel. The full size of the medal from the top of the ring to 

 the end of the lowest knob is 5| inches. The grantor was the 

 Governor who built the Wolvendahl church. The grantee was 

 born in 1686, and represents about the only prominent Sinhalese 

 family which adopted a Dutch surname. The Maha Mudaliyar is 

 always the Chief Interpreter of the Governor, this being the Euro- 

 pean development of the Sinhalese office of Basnayaka. " Tolk 

 onzer porta " is a curious adaptation from the Portuguese. To the 

 Sinhalese the King was the Maha Wasala, for great personages were 

 spoken of after their residences. Wasala also meant Gate, Port. 

 porta ; and the palace officers, or Fidalgos da casa, became with the 

 Dutch Officers of the Porta ; Cf. the Sublime Porte. Also note the 

 reference to descendants in the inscription. 



Plate IV. — Obverse. — Inscription: — This is given to the Modhaar 

 of the Galle Guard, Nicolaas Dias Abesinge Ameresekere, by the 

 Hon. Jan Schreuder, Extraordinary Councillor of the Dutch Indies, 

 Governor and Dii-ector of the Island of Ceylon, with its dependencies, 

 as a token of honour in that he, not only in the })resent revolution 

 in the country, above all others of his nation, has so far acquitted 

 himself honourably as befits a faithful and honourable servant, but 

 also that he and his ancestors have given us proofs of their fidelity. 

 Given in the Fort of Colombo on the 24th January, 1768. 



Plate V. — A finely engraved vessel with apparently the spirits of 

 the air speeding the voyage. 



