26 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XL 



The first Netherlander who came to this Island was 

 Admiral Joris van Spilbergen. He arrived at Batticaloa on May 

 30, 1602, to offer the friendship of the " Netherlands East 

 India Company " to Don Joan, the Emperor of Candia. This 

 so pleased the King and the Chiefs or Courtiers, that they not 

 only paid Spilbergen all possible honour, but they presented 

 him with a quantity of cinnamon and pepper then in store. 



They also gave permission to the States and His Serene 

 Highness the Prince of Orange and Nassauw to build a castle 

 as they thought proper, within His Imperial Majesty's terri- 

 tory, employing the following words : — 



" I, my Empress, Prince, and Princes, will carry on our 

 shoulders the stones, lime, and all the building materials, if 

 the States General and the Prince wish to build a fortress 

 in my country. 1 ' 



Admiral Spilbergen having thus accomplished his mission, 

 and the turn of the monsoon not permitting him to remain 

 longer at Batticaloa, commenced his return journey; 

 leaving behind some letters for Vice-Admiral Sebalt de Weert, 

 whom he expected to meet while in the King's dominion, 

 and who soon arrived at Ceilon. After making a contract 

 with the King of Candia (the contents of which are not 

 recorded), he sailed to Atchin, to collect a large force to 

 attack the Portuguese. 



Having collected a fleet of seven ships, De Weert sailed in 

 haste to Batticaloa, and immediately informed the King of 

 Candia of his arrival ; who thereupon came down to confer 

 with him. The King understanding, however, that De Weert 

 had liberated some Portuguese belonging to four vessels 

 captured by him, was very dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction 

 was increased to such an extent by false reports from the 

 Ambassador who had accompanied De Weert upon his 

 voyage, and also by his unguarded behaviour, that His 

 Majesty in a violent passion ordered De Weert to be 



