HERE. 



ISLAND OF C E Y JL O N. • 187 



themfelves in Ceylon. This highly coaceriied the ArabSy who 

 before that time were the fole venders of the cinnamon, which 

 they carried to Suez, from whence it was conveyed over tlie 

 ifthmus, and from Alexandria to all parts of Europe ; all their 

 endeavors v.ere to no purpofe ; that rich trade became mono- 

 polized by thefe new rivals. 



The Dutch firft landed here in 1603, and viflted the em- Dutch land 

 peror. In 1632 they received a formal invitation from the 

 ruling monarch, and in confequence appeared off the coaft with 

 a potent fleet. They confederated with the king of Ceylon, and 

 after a ftruggle of feveral years, and after great bloodflied, 

 they expelled the Fortuguefe, whofe power ended in the taking 

 of Colombo, in 1656, after a fiege of feven months, in which the 

 P§rtuguefe exerted all that fpirit and valour which originally 

 made them lords of the Indies. The emperor repaid the Dutch 

 all the expence in cinnamon, and other producSlions of the 

 ifland; and inverted them with many privileges; and in re- 

 turn found himfelf exadtly in the fame dependent ftate as he 

 was before his victories. The Dutch fortified every one of his 

 ports. They have befides a grant of coaft round the ifland, 

 twelve miles in breadth, reckoning from the fea*. His majefty 

 maintains a magnificent court at Candy, but at any time his 

 good allies, by the fole interdidtion of the article fait, may make 

 him and his fubje6ts to fubmit to any terms they are pleafed 

 to didtatet. 



* Wolf, p. 244.. t Elfcheflcroon, in Wolf's book, p. 33T. 



R b 2 The 



