No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 29 



Meanwhile the relations between the Candian King and the 

 Portuguese remained in a state of agitation, until the decease 

 of King Cenewieraat Adassyn in the year 1632. He was 

 succeeded by his youngest son Raja Singa Adassyn, or Raja 

 Singa Rajoe, who also allowed matters to remain as they were 

 until the year 1636 ; when, perceiving the impossibility of 

 agreeing with the Portuguese, he sent off a letter to Heer Garel 

 Reyniersz, Governor of Chormandel, wherein he mentions the 

 victories already obtained over the Portuguese, and at the same 

 time earnestly requests the assistance of the Company against 

 them, promising to defray all expenses, and to behave as a 

 brother to the Netherlanders as long as the sun and moon 

 shall endure. On receipt of this letter the Governor of 

 Chormandel immediately forwarded it to the supreme 

 Government of India, who at once despatched two persons 

 (Captain Jan Thyssen, afterwards Councillor Extraordinary 

 for the Netherlands, and the merchant Andreas Helmondt) 

 to the coast, leaving the general direction of affairs to the 

 Governor of Chormandel, with orders to communicate his 

 decisions to the fleet stationed at Goa. 



On the arrival of the two Commissioners, the Governor 

 handed them a letter directed by His Excellency to the 

 Candian King, dated October 20, 1637, in which was stated : 



1. That notice had been taken of His Majesty's letter 

 wherein he mentions the trouble, vexation, and treachery 

 caused by the Portuguese, notwithstanding the successive 

 treaties of peace and friendship entered into with them ; 



2. That His Majesty's resolution to protect his country 

 and drive away the Portuguese, and to call in our assistance 

 for that purpose, is fully appreciated by us ; 



3. That we are inclined to co-operate with His Maj esty in all 

 sincerity, and the Governor-General has appointed these two 

 persons to act as Ambassadors and to enter into negotiations ; 



4. That provided His Majesty grants us the whole of 

 the cinnamon trade, we on our side are ready and willing 

 to give him every assistance in the way of arms and ammu- 

 nition of every description ; 



