ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



dorp so called after General Hulst who at the besieging of 

 Colombo, resided there. In this house he exercised his reli- 

 gion, and numbers came to him, to the no small injury of 

 Christianity. But on a representation to the Governor, he was 

 forbidden, and the visits of the natives were prevented. Then 

 he again feigned an inclination to Christianity, but shortly 

 afterwards fled by night, and passing through the King's 

 territories he was apprehended, and report says, cut to pieces,, 

 at the king's command, while others still hold out that he lives.'* 



In the same letter, from which I have made this long 

 extract, an extraordinary passage occurs, from which it appears 

 that in those days the clergy also kept slaves, and that these 

 were not treated always in the most gentle manner. — " In our 

 former letter of 26 December, 1675, we mentioned the removal 

 from Jaffna of the Rev. J. Durenus, caused by an action 

 brought against 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 understood that he was restored and stationed at 

 Ternaten, where after a short continuance, he and most of his 

 children died." 



It has been mentioned that a member of the Politic Coun- 

 cil had always aseat in the Consistory. A letterfrom Colombo 

 to Jaffna dated 1683, has the following remarks: — " The atten- 

 dance of the Honble Commissar is Politic in our Ecclesiastical 

 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, pen and ink 

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

 important cases are dictated to him a verbo ad verbum. He 

 in his turn, communicates to us in writing, or allows us to 



