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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. X. 



confirmed. The public letter, of which the Political Council 

 had knowledge, was placed in a large silver basin, being 

 wrapped first in cloth, and then in red velvet, and was then 

 placed in a beautiful new carriage, which was drawn by six 

 fine horses. This letter in this carriage was accompanied by the 

 whole garrison as far as the extreme boundaries of Colombo, 

 where they parted from it amidst the firing of several field- 

 pieces and of all the musketeers, and let the Cingalese proceed 

 entrusted with the rest. The private letter as well as the oral 

 instructions of his own subjects were, however, so far able to 

 move the old King, that in the following year in the month 

 of May he released a number of Hollanders, or rather Euro- 

 peans, who had been kept prisoners in Candia some 17 

 or 18 years, notwithstanding that he had sworn many oaths 

 that he would put no more faith in the Hollanders all the 

 days of his life. Beside these prisoners the King sent some 

 Ambassadors to confer verbally with the Governor, who were 

 received and sent back again with all ceremony and honour.* 

 All this took place before my arrival there, but was related 

 to me by those who had themselves been present. 



But on the 10th Decemb., 1687, I myself saw two envoys 

 from the new King arrive. Whilst these envoys were in 

 Colombo, Laurens Pijl released all the Company's slaves 

 that were in chains, and struck off their fetters, and pardoned 



* From the Beknopte Historie we learn that in 1686, by presents, and 

 the promised aid of the Chief Priest of Kandy (who had visited Governor 

 Pyl, and been entertained "with great pomp and ceremony"), the Dutch 

 hoped to obtain the release of their countrymen detained prisoners by the 

 King-, but that Raja Sinha hardened his heart " at the instigation of his 

 French and Portuguese captives." The present of an eagle, however, early 

 in 1687 led to "great interchange of compliments," and ultimately to 

 " the release of the Dutch prisoners, amongst them being Lieut. Moliere 

 and Ensign Steenbeek, besides eleven Toepasses and some natives." 



The Dutch Records, Colombo, furnish further particulars. The prisoners 

 were sent down from Kandy in charge of Aswolla Adigar, Galgama Rala, 

 Kobewela Mohotiyar, Maradagoda Muhandiram, and a large retinue : they 

 reached Colombo on May 13. The gratitude of the Dutch prompted an 

 expenditure of / 1,908. 18. 9 in presents to the escort, viz. : — Aswolla 

 Adigar, / 507. 7. 10; Galgama Rala, / 207, 18. 5; Kobewela Mohotiyar, 

 / 182. 13. 5; Maradagoda Rala,/ 150. 18. 5; Adigar's Muhandiram, 



