26 CEYLON BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



him for chastising his slave whose death it was alleged was 

 owing to severe punishment. The matter was referred to the 

 Supreme Government at Batavia, whither he was sent last year, 

 with all the documents on the subject. We have since un- 

 derstood that he was restored and stationed at Ternaten, 

 where after a short continuance he and most of his chil- 

 dren died. " 



It has been mentioned that a member of the Politic Council 

 had always a seat in the Consistory, a letter from Colombo 

 to Jaffna dated 1 683 has the following remarks. " The at* 

 ter- dunce of the Honbie Commissaris Politic in our Ecclesias- 

 tical meeting takes place with the best understanding. His seat 

 is at the end of the table over against our President, covered 

 with scarlet broadcloth, and, to prevent mistakes, pea and ink 

 are placed before him, to note down our conclusions, which 

 in important cases are dictated to him a \erho ad verbum. 

 He, in his turn, commuriicates to us in writing, or allows us to 

 record the propositions or approvals of His Excellency The Go- 

 vernor and his Honbie Council. " 



Respecting the Dutch Congregations in the Colombo district 

 the following statement was given in 1684. " We three un- 

 dersigned ministers serve the Churches of Colombo, Negombo, 

 Tutucoreen and Calpentyn. The Dutch congregation at Co- 

 lombo consists, of between 140 and 150 members, 26 mem- 

 bers have either died or left the place during the last year. 

 We have here an Ecclesia Ambulatoria, in which among the 

 Company's servants some depart and others arrive, as the ser- 

 vice of the Company requires them, which is the case in all 

 India. The Negombo congregation consists of £0 members, 

 Tutucoreen 18 and Calpentyn 8, which latter place was for- 

 merly reckoned under Manaar but a few months ago Govern- 

 ment has placed it under Colombo. There is here (Colombo) 

 preaching thrice a week, and on Thursdays after Divine Ser- 

 vice, a catechizing for the young. Two krankbezoekers are also 



