No. 35.— 1887.] 



NOTES ON CEYLON. 



159 



shouted " Long live the King !" In the evening there was a 

 display of fireworks, which was witnessed by the Ambassadors. 

 On the 19th there was another display of fireworks on the 

 water. On the 23rd they returned with many presents. 

 These were sent in return for a gun that was of massive gold, 

 and that was sent by the King to the Governor. The 

 Secretary Aalbos returned with them to the King, with 

 express command not to return thence before the King had 

 also proclaimed peace, or until he was summoned back by a 

 later order. 34 



On the 5th Octob. came two envoys from the King, but 

 they were received only at the gate, and after they had spoken 

 with Pijl they departed with dissatisfaction on both sides, 

 and the Ambassadors were allowed to go without any 

 -escort.* 



On 25th November a letter was sent by a Cingalese with 

 great ceremony to the King, who replied to it on the 22nd 

 Dec. in the same manner, the letter being received by a 

 company of soldiers. The contents were, that the King did 

 not wish to have anything more to do with embassies, but 

 that he wished to speak with his Governor verbally, to which 

 end the King had caused great preparations in the way of 

 houses to be made at Zeduaaken. 



The fort of Zeduaaken lay about 12 miles from Colombo, 

 .and was the frontier place of Colombo and Candien. 'T was 

 a regular fortress, well provided with ordnance. Under its 

 protection several aldees 5b or villages sheltered themselves. 

 This fortress, with its dependent aldees, the Governor had 

 some months before ceded to the King. There, as I have 

 said, the King had made great preparations for speaking with, 

 the Governor personally. The envoys who had brought this 

 letter returned on the 5th January, 1689, and a public letter 

 was then sent to the King with the same ceremony as if an 



* Mudaliyars " Hindenie Abesinge " and " Hakmana Heneke " arrived 

 on October 5, with letter dated the 2nd. Governor Pyl replied on the 

 22nd.— B., Hon. Sec. 



