No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 67 



succeeding year, in February, 1671, pretending that all that 

 had passed was the work of some ill-disposed malcontents, but 

 that the King and his officers remained true to the 

 Hollanders: they requested that one of the Company's 

 servants might be sent with them to the Court to assure His 

 Majesty of their friendly disposition towards him. 



This request was, however, refused, partly as no one felt 

 inclined, in consequence of the treachery already committed, 

 to run the risk of going to the Court, partly as none of the 

 previously sent Ambassadors had ever returned.* 



It was shortly afterwards ascertained without any doubt 

 that the King found himself in a deplorable condition, 

 everything tending to prove that His Majesty had lost all 

 power, and the chiefs taking advantage of this, and being 

 unwilling to submit longer to his tyranny, seized on every- 

 thing that came within their power. They also prevented 

 the correspondence between the Court and Heer van 

 Goens. But a soldier who had some time since been 

 sent [to Candia], had presents given him by the King, and 

 was ordered to go to Colombo with three courtiers and to 

 confer with Heer van Goens. This plan was, however, frus- 

 trated, as the King was suddenly taken ill ; and as he was 

 no longer master of himself the courtiers took possession of 

 the Court, and prevented their departure. 



This was a great misfortune, as the people of Saffregam and 

 Arandore were very desirous of putting themselves under 

 the Company's power, and many came to Colombo with olas 

 soliciting protection ; while most of the King's people were 

 going to the mountains fearing the advance of the Company's 

 forces. 



At last after the many letters sent to the Court during the 

 last fourteen years had been left unanswered, and no attention 

 paid to the repeated requests for the release of the Dutch pri- 

 soners, the above-mentioned soldier came from the Court in the 

 year 1671, laden with presents, and related among other things 

 that some of the chiefs were soon to follow him, and that 



* See note (&), Appendix. 



F 2 



