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



the impossibility of maintaining ourselves in these ports 

 without having a garrison on shore. Trinconomale should 

 be first occupied, and the point where the Portuguese had 

 formerly an old fortress, strengthened: everything should 

 be considered and arranged in the best manner, having 

 regard to the size of the fort and its situation, so as to 

 maintain our footing. The same measures might afterwards 

 be taken at Batticaloa, and thus lay at rest, once for all> 

 their Excellencies' anxieties about the opening of these 

 ports to other European nations. 



Their Excellencies repeat by letter of July 21 of the 

 same year the apprehensions mentioned in their former 

 letter concerning the expedition to the mountains ; being of 

 opinion that if they evacuate Saffregam and the highlands, 

 and occupy Trinconomale and Batticaloa, and make it clear 

 to His Majesty that it is not our intention to make a conquest 

 of his territories, it will give him less offence. 



Heer Van Goens, however, maintained his opinion that it 

 was to the King's interest that the districts containing the posts 

 of Saffregam, Bibligam, and Ruanelle should remain in our 

 power, so as to afford protection and security to the in- 

 habitants ; the more so as those who had been kidnapped before 

 the revolt, had most of them returned, and there was, therefore, 

 a lack of people in the Company's territory. Another reason 

 was that by holding Ruanelle the transport of arecanuts by 

 way of Putulang could be diverted to Nigombo and Colombo. 



Their Excellencies in their letter of September 13, 1666, 

 acknowledged the correctness of these opinions, and added 

 that in furtherance of this plan, Calpetty should be provided 

 with a small fort, as it had become so important that the 

 trade in arecanuts and cotton goods had produced 3,000 

 rix-dollars in taxes within eight months ; that Chilauw 

 should also in time be occupied, and Nigombo fortified 

 with a view to induce the inhabitants of the Seven Corles to 

 put themselves under the protection of the Company. The 

 King Ragia Singa seemed to approve of the Company's actions, 

 as upon the capture of Trinconomale by their forces in the 



