No. 35.— 1887.] CAPTURE OF trincomalee. 



123 



THE CAPTURE OF TRINCOMALEE, 

 A. D. 1639. 



EXTRACT from Report of the Ratemahatmayd of Louder Hewdheta to 

 the Hon. the Government Agent, Kandy, dated December 12, 1887. 



It is believed that during the reign of King Kirti-sri he caused 



the waters of all the natural springs in the vicinity to be weighed and 

 tested, and the water of this Hilpenkandura was found to be the best of 

 all. So his Majesty ordered that this stream should be kept exclu- 

 sively for the royal household, and no one was allowed (except those 

 of the royal household) to use it. 



The king also ordered a bath-room to be built there, surrounded with 

 a strong wall, and a gate leading to it ; and also appointed two officers — 

 one to watch the handura and one to guard the gate ; and his Majesty 

 made it a rule to proceed thither every "Wednesday in a palanquin 

 followed by procession of tom-tom beaters, musicians, and others. This 

 rule was followed by his successors. 



[To face page 122 of R. A. S. Journal 3 r w. -55 of 1887.] 



information, to report it early next morning. !So he returned 

 to land and nothing further took place that evening. 



April 19. — In the forenoon Vice-Commander Willem 

 Jacobsz Coster and the Fiscal Gerard Herbers having rowed 

 ashore to ascertain whether the Prince of this place (who 

 was unwell, having suffered with sore-eyes for the last five 

 years) would come on board to deliberate with the Comman- 

 der touching the attack on the Fort of Trincomalee, and what 

 steps should be taken to conquer it, the aforesaid Prince 

 came on board the Admiral's yacht " Armuyden " with one 



83—88 c 



