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



Laurens Pyl, who in the year 1680 was appointed Councillor 

 Extraordinary and Governor of Ceilon. Things remained 

 in this uncertain and unsatisfactory state between the Com- 

 pany and the Candian Court until the arrival from Persia 

 of a lion, some horses, tigers, and falcons ordered by their 

 Excellencies. Governor Pyl, in Council, resolved on 

 May 14, 1861, to despatch them to the Candian Court 

 by the Sergeant Mierop, who was to take with him at the 

 same time the presents still remaining at Sitavaque, and 

 strive to induce His Majesty to grant a favourable peace (his 

 reluctance in accepting the former presents being ascribed to 

 our not sending European Ambassadors with them), and at 

 the same time to obtain the release of the Netherlander 

 detained prisoners. 



Meanwhile, the king's people committed great violence and 

 maltreated the Chalias at Caymelle, chased them away and 

 burned the peeled cinnamon. They continued to act in this 

 manner elsewhere, for some time the King continuing 

 to profess friendliness to the Dutch and ignorance of any 

 hostilities. 



In the following year, 1682, as Governor Pyl and his Council 

 received good accounts about the undisturbed work of the 

 peelers, it was resolved, in order to prevent any interruption, 

 to despatch a special present to the Candian monarch, accom- 

 panied by a friendly and flattering letter. This seemed to 

 have a favourable result, as the peelers were not harassed, 

 and the cinnamon was peaceably gathered. 



Private information was, however, occasionally received 

 from Candia showing a bad state of affairs, as the King 

 continued to tyrannise over the people, and executed several 

 subjects whom he deemed too powerful. These cruelties he 

 was driven to on grounds of policy, as he thought milder 

 treatment on his part might jeopardise his crown. 



All this was communicated to their Excellencies by 

 Governor Pyl by a letter of July 3, adding that upon 

 His Majesty's decease, and the succession of his son, the 



