76 



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



In the month of June the Chiefs presumed to enter the 

 Company's gravets* and erect some poles decorated with 

 green leaves, to claim jurisdiction there, declaring that they 

 did this under orders, but had no intention of making war, 

 having on purpose laid aside muskets and knives. This was, 

 however, considered by Governor Pyl an incitement to the 

 Company to declare war, thereby causing a breach between 

 the Company and the King. It was therefore considered 

 advisable to take no notice of the matter, but to bring it to 

 the knowledge of the King by a friendly letter, saying it 

 was our conviction that this had been done without His 

 Majesty's knowledge, and that the instigators were as much 

 the enemies of the King as of the Company, that they will be 

 gently told to depart in the King's name, and if they do not 

 obey will be forcibly driven away. 



The chiefs also sent some soldiers to several Corles, and 

 demanded possession of them from those in command. 



In consequence of which the Governor and Council, fearing 

 the Singalese intended an attack, resolved to concentrate 

 the Netherland forces in the other Corles, in order to be in a 

 position to repel them, and to call away the Netherland forces 

 at Dunaga, and replace them with Toepasses only. 



Shortly after this Governor Pyl received a letter from 

 the Ambassador Mierop from-Candia, announcing that he had 

 been admitted to an audience with the King, and had a 

 friendly reception, and sending an ola from the courtiers to 

 the chiefs at Attaly asking for the presents for the King got 

 in readiness here and lying at Sitavaque. It was thereupon 

 decided to send them up to His Majesty by the plj Captain 

 Adam Slegt, with a letter, the most important portion of 

 which ran : — 



" The Governor offers his thanks to the King for the 

 " favour and honour shown to the Ambassador Mierop and 



* Gravets or resthouses : so it appears in a chart of Ceylon. [Mr. Donald 

 Ferguson writes : — " This is hardly a correct explanation. The 

 kadawatas were watch-posts on the boundary of the Kandyan Kingdom." 

 F. H. deVos.] 



-j- pl.=^laatselyhe : thus still not appointed to that rank. 



