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



the more so as the Company had already possession of the 

 coast, and consequently could command the whole commerce 

 of the Island, and their Excellencies did not aspire to 

 anything further or wish to control His Majesty in the 

 interior. 



Things were in this condition when news arrived quite 

 unexpectedly in the month of October, that the Singalese had 

 invaded the Mendekaduale and Attakalan Corles, thus 

 playing us a treacherous trick and obliging our people to 

 beat a retreat. 



It was now resolved to send a military force as far as 

 Ruanwelle ; and in the meantime to despatch Sergeant 

 Major Hendrik van Reede with a considerable detachment. 

 He succeeded in avenging the treachery of the King. 



Consequently things remained more peaceful in 1669, 

 except that the King attempted to take possession of the 

 Company's evacuated lands. He however expressed his 

 regret at the retreat of the Company's forces. A trial was 

 made on December 5, to hold these lands without retaining 

 a garrison there, keeping them only under the supervision 

 of a Dessave assisted by a few European and native soldiers ; 

 but it appeared that the attempt was unsuccessful. 



The ports of the Island remained open, and the King was 

 not only granted free navigation at Calpetty, Batticaloa, 

 Coetjaar, &c, but also at Colombo, Gale, and Nigombo ; until 

 October, 1670, when another violent insurrection broke out 

 between the highlands and lowlands. It was pretended 

 that the chiefs had driven the King to this. 



Matters going from bad to worse, a letter was sent *o the 

 King requesting the release of the Company's peopi who 

 had been treacherously kidnapped from Arandore, and 

 threatening to employ every means [of harassment] in their 

 power upon refusal of satisfaction. 



This having no effect, it was resolved to stop the navigation 

 at Coetjaar, Batticaloa, and Calpetty, and not to allow any 

 more vessels to enter or depart from these ports. 



In consequence of this, some courtiers arrived the 



