No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 27 



bound. But he resisted, and while attempting to draw 

 his sword was seized from behind, and had his head cloven 

 with a broadsword ; thus losing his life in an unexpected 

 and traitorous manner. 



As this atrocity could not be remedied, no one dared to 

 inform the King, but the Prince of Oeva was at last embold- 

 ened to tell. His Majesty was at first greatly troubled ; 

 but the affair being explained as satisfactorily as possible, 

 it was both overlooked as a thing past recall, and the 

 King ordered that the crew left on shore by De Weert 

 should also be killed ; thus serving them in the same way as 

 their master. This was done, and only a few escaped by 

 swimming [to their vessels]. 



After this massacre (which, when too late, was often 

 regretted bytheCandian King), His Majesty fell dangerously 

 ill, and succumbed in the year 1604. 



He was succeeded, after some previous insurrections in the 

 Kingdom, by his step-brother Cenewieraat Adassyn, who, 

 as soon as he felt his position secured, again sought the 

 friendship of the Netherlanders in order to form an alliance 

 with them against the Portuguese. His Majesty, however, was 

 anticipated by the Netherlanders, for in the year 1609, Their 

 High Mightinesses the States General of the United 

 Netherlands having concluded a twelve years' peace with the 

 Archduke Albertus and the Infanta of Spain, Isabella Clara 

 Eugenia, with the proviso to include these in the 

 Indian possessions, the Directors issued letters of recom- 

 mendation to all the East India Kings, Princes, and Potentates, 

 and amongst them the Emperor of Candia. These were 

 drawn out by Their High Mightinesses and His Serene 

 Highness the Prince of Orange and Nassauw in the tenor 

 stated by Baldeus* in his description of Ceilon, pages 23, 24, 

 and 25, despatched by the yacht " Hasewind," and upon 

 arrival forwarded to Chormandal to Mr. Joan van 

 Wesik, President, on behalf of the East India Company. 



* Baldens (Ph.), " Beschryving van Malabar, Choromandel en Ceylon" 

 &c, Amsterdam, 1672. 



