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



able to bring about any of the preliminaries regarding the negotiations 

 of peace, or to obtain the release of the rest of the Netherlander and 

 other prisoners. But in the month of Jane of the same year appeared 

 in Colombo the Dewekare Mahamohotiaar with nine captive Hollanders, 

 making known the King's investiture as Emperor, as also that H. M. 

 had granted absolute permission and qualification that the Hon. the 

 Com. might peel cinnamon everywhere in the upper corles, on con- 

 dition that the King should always be informed beforehand when the 

 Chialias were to go into the jungle. The aforesaid investiture of the 

 King was thereupon celebrated by the Hollanders solemnly and ostenta- 

 tiously, everyone, black and white, shouting ' Long live the King ! ' 

 being the ordinary exclamations of sovereignty and submission. Shortly 

 after this it was resolved that the Envoy formerly sent, Alebos, should 

 go as Ambassador a second time to congratulate the young Monarch and 

 present him with the gifts on behalf of the Comp. ; while at the 

 same time he was given ample instructions and authority to treat for 

 peace, conformably with the draft contract drawn up, the contents of 

 which were as follows : " — and then follow the provisions. 



35 " Aldea, s. a village ; also a villa. Port, from the Ar. al-dai'a, 

 a farm or villa. " (Hob son- Job son.*) 



36 So printed : but apparently a lapsus pennce of the writer's for 

 Pijl. At this time Laurens Pil, junior, was Governor of Coromandel. 

 (See Valentijn, Choromandel, p. 15.) 



37 We learn from the " Beknopte Historie " that the Secretary 

 Alebos returned to Colombo in September, 1688, having been unsuccess- 

 ful in his mission. Full details are given of his negotiations with the 

 Kandyan monarch, who finally gave him his conge, stating that he 

 wished to have direct communication with the Governor himself. It 

 is also stated that after the return of Alebos an ' 61a ' was received 

 from the Kandyan court, written by order of the King, detailing his 

 various grievances and returning the draft contract brought by Alebos 

 for the Governor's own perusal and opinion. It is further recorded 

 that at the end of the year two ' olas ' were brought from Kandy by 

 some chiefs, one of these 1 olas ' stating that the King was coming to 

 the low country to confer with the Governor ; and the other that his 

 Majesty demanded, besides the opening of the ports, the cession to him 

 of all the ' Pagodas ' situated near the sea, that the Sinhalese might 

 enjoy freedom of religion. To the first 1 61a ' reply was made, that, as 

 a Governor could not leave his place unless another of higher or equal 

 rank were sent, he must, in order not to go contrary to the orders of 

 his superiors, forego the pleasure of receiving and speaking with his 

 Majesty. With respect to the second ' 61a,' answer was sent that 

 delay and patience were asked for, until their Excellencies' orders were 

 given. It is also stated that in the following year (1689) a very 

 offensive letter was received from the Kandyan court, to which a very 

 strong reply was sent. Yalentijn's account of the events of this period 



