ROBERT KNOX. 



147 



as he may dare, and can conveniently, carry on his shoulder 

 as a chitty, and also a note written in English as well as in 

 Dutch, enclosed in a quill, and containing as follows : — 



" To all our good friends and dear allies, the honora- 

 ble officers, and captives of inferior rank of the English 

 nation. 



" Being informed of your great need and wretchedness, 

 we cannot refrain from performing the Christian duty of 

 assisting you with such articles of clothing as the bearer 

 will deliver to you, together with 50 pagodas ready money. 

 We have sent to Madras the ola addressed to Sir Edward, 

 as well as a copy of this. Send back the bearer as soon as 

 possible, that we may see whether through his fidelity, we 

 could, to some extent, assist such of our own countryme n 

 as are suffering great want [like yourselves]. Hold com- 

 munication with us through him, for we will always help 

 you by the bearer, so long as he shall be preserved by God^ 

 and be successful. We remain, your good friend, 



Rykloff Vaist Goens." 



f' Colombo, 22nd October, 1669.'? 



After this the Minute proceeds in the following strain. 



" And since we find ourselves obliged to forward the 

 ola to Madras as early as possible, to the end that the 

 friends of these men there may become acquainted with the 

 condition of their poor countrymen, it is resolved to send 

 the forementioned ola, by the first opportunity, to Mr. 

 Paviloen, Governor in Coromandel, who shall thence for- 

 ward it to Madras, together with a despatch to the English 

 authorities there, conceived in the following terms 



