No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 37 



redress the past, wrote to His Majesty saying that Heer 

 Thyssen had acted without authority, and was dismissed on 

 that account, as also Commander Overschie, and that he 

 himself had been appointed in Heer Thyssen's place. He 

 also stated that the elephants which had been seized were 

 on their way back, and as soon as His Majesty was pleased 

 to receive their Excellencies' letter, with the accompanying- 

 presents, the elephants would follow. 



Heer Maetsuycker informs the King by another letter, that 

 the Netherlanders had never intended to take away his lands ; 

 they only wished to protect them against the Portuguese, 

 and, after having settled our war expenses, we wished him 

 to sell us the products of the country at a reasonable price, 

 according to the contract made with Heer Westerworld ; 

 further desiring His Majesty to be pleased to appoint a place 

 where all differences could be settled. 



But all this was in vain : the King only increased his 

 hostility against us ; for, when the Commandeur Heer 

 Adriaan van der Stel was sent to Hegari with 688 men, they 

 were surprised by the Singalese and all but four killed, the 

 head of the Commandeur being sent in a silk handkerchief 

 to the Netherlanders. 



Upon hearing of this atrocity, Heer Maetsuycker was again 

 obliged to address the King. He wrote to him on May 20, 

 1646, to the effect that he had heard with deep regret that the 

 Commandeur Van der Stel, who was sent with the permission 

 of His Majesty to draw off our army, had been surprised and 

 killed, when he could not according to orders, with propriety, 

 defend himself, but had to maintain peace, and that almost 

 all his men had been killed and the guns and baggage 

 looted. 



Heer Maetsuycker also said that the enemy would only 

 rejoice that the differences between the Netherlanders and 

 His Majesty had risen so high, that His Majesty allowed the 

 persons who came to serve him to be murdered. He requested 

 His Majesty to declare himself either for peace or war ; but 

 .hoped His Majesty would be guided by his good sense and 



