No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 61 



and 15 Lascoreens, but had met with such a reception, that 

 they were obliged to retire. 



The worst of our troubles, however, lay in our own 

 dogs biting us most, as the principal Singalese were so 

 treacherous that they watched all our movements for 

 the information of the enemy, while we were left in total 

 ignorance of the designs of the Candians. 



We were apprised of the capture of a sergeant, four soldiers, 

 their wives, and some other inhabitants of the neighbourhood 

 of Mabol, who were bound and carried before the Dessave of 

 the Seven Corles, and were told to rest assured that having 

 served the Netherlanders so long, they would be employed 

 as slaves to His Majesty for the future. 



Letters also came from Caliture to the effect that some 

 robbers had had the audacity to destroy the harvest at 

 Boemboele, and that the men sent in pursuit of them had 

 captured two spies, cut off their heads, and exposed them to 

 public view in the paddy fields. 



The Portuguese Admiral requested by His Majesty, sent 

 some vessels or dhonies (thonys) to Nagapatnam to again 

 collect some forces, which increased our difficulties, and 

 frequently compelled Heer van der Meyden to send 200 or 

 300 men against the Candians to drive them away. 



The King Ragi Singa meanwhile continued his evil acts, 

 and well nigh depopulated the lowlands maliciously and 

 ignored his just debts to the Company, as he still claimed to 

 be master of Colombo. 



Their Excellencies at Batavia, however, sent a fleet to 

 Ceilon at the end of 1657 under the command of His 

 Excellency Mr. Ryckloff van Goens, composed of 16 ships 

 and 700 soldiers, while Heer van Goens was to superintend 

 the Government as Commissary. 



On February 1, 1658, the Netherlanders took possession of 

 Tutucoryn, and on the 22nd of March following, Manaar 

 fell into their power, followed on April 23, by [the capture 

 of] Ham-en- Hi el, and on June 21, of the castle of Jaffana- 

 patnam, where they shortly after discovered great treachery 



