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



It was clearly shown to His Majesty that both he and the 

 Company suffered great loss in consequence, to the advantage 

 of the Portuguese, and His Majesty was besought to cease 

 hostilities and live in friendship with us, leaving us in 

 peaceful possession of the lands we had so long occupied. 



A speedy answer was insisted upon ; and we also desired 

 His Majesty to send us some delegates, saying that we were 

 inclined to evacuate Nigombo and demolish it, and further 

 to grant all reasonable demands of His Majesty, provided 

 they did not clash with the interests of the Colony. 



Should His Majesty persist, however, in his unjust persecu- 

 tion of the poor inhabitants and our own Netherlander, we 

 should protest before God and the whole world, and proclaim 

 ourselves guiltless of all the misery, straits, and blood- 

 shedding that might ensue, as we were compelled against our 

 will to repel by force the injustice and indignities committed 

 against us. 



Although a reply was received from His Majesty, it was 

 not satisfactory, as it only treated of a falcon sent with our 

 letter to make the contents more acceptable, and did not 

 make him desist from hostilities ; for although the 200 

 soldiers sent by us as protection had frightened his people 

 and caused such satisfaction to our native subjects that more 

 than 1,000 returned to us, it did not prevent His Majesty 

 from giving orders to his Lascoreens to capture as many 

 Netherlander as possible and bring them to him, and to cut 

 off the noses and ears of all the blacks, Singalese, Moors, 

 and slaves in our service. 



The enmity and bitterness of His Majesty increased daily 

 obliging us to keep a watch everywhere, and to send troops 

 against the Candians, who meanwhile carried off a Duraya 

 (JDoeria) and two cinnamon peelers. 



On July 20, 1656, two deserters came to inform us, that 

 His Majesty had presented two Portuguese with important 

 villages ; also that the Candians had with 100 men attacked 

 our post Hakman, which had only a garrison of 10 whites 



