No. 38.— 1889.] the dutch in ceylon, 1602-1757. 69 



property. They were unanimously of opinion that Trin- 

 conomale might legally be considered to belong to the 

 kingdom of Jaffanapatnam, and as it had never been under 

 the control of the Singalese, and had been taken by the 

 Company from the Portuguese, they were for defending it 

 by force of arms against the invasion of the French. 



The means taken for that purpose by His Excellency were 

 so effectual that in the same year, 1672, [the fleet of] that 

 nation was defeated, and through want and capitulation 

 retired from the aforesaid bay. 



It was very strange on the part of the King Raja Singa 

 that while the French were at Trinconamale, he expressly 

 desired the Company to drive them away from that Island. 

 There is little doubt that they acted in concert, if not 

 directly with him, at least with his chiefs and with his 

 knowledge : by which conduct the artful and base character 

 of that prince were clearly brought out. 



Meanwhile we still held the occupied posts, and granted 

 -amnesty to many of the insurgents, without, however, 

 •entering into any agreement with the King's rebellious 

 subjects, although they very much desired it. The King on 

 his part did not interfere with the Company, and left them 

 in quiet possession of their lands until the year 1675, when 

 a general rising took place, and the mountaineers invaded 

 the country in much greater force than was deemed possible. 



In the meantime Admiral and Superintendent Ryckloff 

 van Goens left for Batavia in April of the same year, 

 1675, and the administration was assumed by his son, Heer 

 Ryckloff van Goens, junior. 



In the month of August the fort of Bibligamme was 

 attacked and besieged by a strong body of the King's people, 

 and the garrison in the month of September, commanded by 

 Lieutenant Dessave Blykland and Lieutenant Moliere, was, 

 after a desperate resistance, obliged to surrender to the 

 superior power of the Candians : they were sent as prisoners 

 of war to Kandy, despite every effort made by the Governor 

 to procure their release. 



