No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 73 



While the horses were being prepared for departure, a 

 rumour reached us that most of the Dessaves were assembling 

 their forces. Not knowing their intentions, Captain van 

 der Poel was sent in the following year, 1678, with a sufficient 

 escort of soldiers and Lascoreens, to repel any attack that 

 might be made by the King's people ; but on arriving at 

 Sitavaque he found no one to receive either the horses or the 

 letter. On the contrary, having remained there some time, 

 he was informed that the mountaineers were continuing their 

 ravages, to the ruin of the poor people in the Saffregam 

 districts, who requested permission to come down to the 

 Hewagam Corle with their wives and children. The Korala 

 (Coraal) of the Hegampelle Corle told him that a certain 

 Pannipetti Rale had, on behalf of the Dessawe of the Three 

 Corles, issued a manifesto to the inhabitants of the Hegampelle 

 Corle, prohibiting them from providing the Netherlanders 

 with provisions or from approaching their fortresses, but 

 summoning all the Lascoreens of that Corle in the King's 

 name to join his forces. 



Captain van der Poel afterwards reported that many of his 

 soldiers were suffering from the prevalent fever, and said it 

 was necessary to send them away. He was therefore directed 

 to at once despatch the invalids, and, if no better news 

 arrived from the mountains, to follow with the remainder of 

 the soldiers, leaving only the required garrison at Sitavaque ; 

 but to inform the King of this previously, as well as of the 

 violence and murders perpetrated by the mountaineers, and 

 that it was out of respect for His Majesty and for the 

 furtherance of peace that we did not retaliate. 



On March 28, 1679, to give them full scope an ola was 

 written to the chiefs in the name of the Council of Colombo 

 drawing attention to their conduct. Notwithstanding this no 

 answer was received to any of the letters, and the presents 

 still remained at Sitavaque, all to no purpose. 



Soon after this Heer Ryckloff van Goens, junior, 

 returned to Batavia, and on November 3, 1679, transferred 

 the Government to the Commandeur of Jaffanapatnam, Heer 



