No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 77 



" his suite, also for a black tiger received by the Governor 

 " as a present from His Majesty." 



Meanwhile tidings came that the King's people were forti- 

 fying themselves at Ampe, and were daily bringing many 

 pingos with arms and ammunition, also that the Dessave of 

 Ouwe (Oeva) had joined his forces with the others under pre- 

 tence of carrying away the presents with the greatest honour. 



As our previous experience had shown how little depen- 

 dence could be placed in this fickle and treacherous nation, it 

 was resolved to increase the ordinary escort of the Embassy 

 to 378 soldiers with 500 Lascoreens, and for further security 

 to despatch two large boats, each with two field pieces, to 

 Ruanelle, to protect the ford by the river ; pretending on our 

 side, as they had done on theirs, that these important pre- 

 parations and this immense procession were intended to do 

 honour in conveying the presents. The orders were that if the 

 King's people delayed in receiving the presents and detained 

 the Ambassador, they were to be asked to respectfully offer 

 them to His Majesty, and if he refused to accept them, the 

 Embassy was to return, leaving the presents behind. This 

 was accordingly done. 



The only important event that occurred this year was that 

 the Chalias, having ventured too far up from Nigombo, 

 where cinnamon was more abundant, it was confiscated, and 

 the Chalias were reprimanded by the King's chiefs : they 

 were, however, not injured. 



The King was supposed to have said upon hearing of this 

 occurrence, that if the Company were in want of cinnamon, 

 they had only to mention it to His Majesty and he would send 

 a sufficient quantity to Colombo ; but that they would give him 

 great offence if they gathered it beyond their frontier without 

 his permission. Governor Pyl thereupon asked the King's 

 pardon, and also requested the return of the detained cinna- 

 mon, which His Majesty granted after long opposition on the 

 part of the courtiers, the quantity amounting to 14,105 lbs.* 



* The symbol lb., rendered lbs. by the translator, generally stands for 

 three noughts or ciphers. — F. H. de Vos. 



