CuAP. v.] THE WAXXY. 509 



lese sovereigns from their northern capitals in the 

 fourteenth century, and tlie abandonment of tlieir 

 deserted country to the Malabars, the latter, chsor- 

 ganised and distracted in turn, by the ruin they them- 

 selves had made, were broken up into small princi- 

 pahties under semi-independent chiefs, and of these the 

 Wanny was one of the last that sur\T.ved the general 

 decay. 



In modern times the Wanny was governed by native 

 princes, styled Wannyahs, and occasionally by females 

 with the title of Wanninchees ; their chiefs professed 

 allegiance and paid tribute to the Malabar rajahs of 

 Jaffna; and later still to the kings of Kandy; but their 

 submission to the latter was ostensible rather than real, 

 and involved scarcely a virtual subjection. 



The Portuguese, after the capture of Jaffna-patam, 

 became the nominal sovereigns of the Wanny ; but 

 their dominion never extended beyond the sea-coast, 

 and they exercised no actual control over its restless 

 chieftains and then' followers. The Dutch, as the 

 successors of Portugal, affected to assert a right of 

 supremacy ; but were only enabled to enforce their 

 annual tribute of elephants by a frequent resort to 

 arms.^ In 1782 these continued conflicts were brought 

 to an apparent issue by a combined and vigorous effort 

 of the Dutch, who routed the forces of the Wanny ah s 

 at all points, and reduced their country to at least the 

 outward semblance of submission. It is characteristic 

 of the spii'it of this people that the Dutch met nowhere 

 a more determined resistance than from one of the 

 native princesses, the Wanmnchee Maria Sembatte, whom 

 they were obhged to carry away prisoner, and to detain 

 in captivity in the fort of Colombo. 



For the security of their conquests the Dutch erected 

 a fort at Moeletivoe, on the eastern coast ; but the sole 



^ Yalentyn, Oud en Nicnw Oost- I 172 ; Balb^tts, p. 717 ; Kxox, p. 

 Lulicn, ch. iii. p. 49; cli. xiii. p. | 175. 



