No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 81 



The Company therefore had secured to themselves the sea- 

 board and several useful persons, following in this the 

 example set by the Portuguese, being determined not to 

 remain there only in defiance of the King, but to gather the 

 cinnamon whether the King liked it or not. This had 

 caused the angry feelings of the Singalese, as proved by their 

 frequent disregard of the articles of peace. 



The Company having thus come to the conclusion that they 

 could not agree with the Singalese, considered the contract as 

 broken, and taking into consideration the consequences, had 

 taken some of the fortresses and strongholds, and had con- 

 structed others, as they were in truth needed. 



This led to a renewal of proposals for a treaty with the King 

 extending over many years, but resulted in no definite 

 arrangement. 



The conduct of the Governor Pyl made His Majesty feel 

 well disposed towards him, and His Majesty forbade war, 

 and seemed to desire friendship, in consequence perhaps of 

 old age, infirmities, and the state of his country ; but taking 

 into consideration the difficulty of sounding the minds of 

 the Singalese, there remained the fear of ever ascertaining 

 their true intentions. Should they be really inclined for 

 peace, we ought not to insist upon every point in the contract 

 of Adam Westerwold ; as for various reasons we could not 

 trust the Singalese, especially with regard to the surrender 

 or demolition of the castles and fortresses on the seaboard, 

 which would be of serious disadvantage to us and give 

 facility to the French and English, to gain a footing in Ceilon, 

 both those nations not being considered when the contract 

 was made in India. 



The trade with the Indians might be granted, if insisted 

 upon, as the Company could easily put difficulties in the 

 way by levying tolls upon it. 



The lands, provinces, and peoples conquered during the 

 war should not be claimed under the contract, but by virtue 

 of the right of war, they having been taken from the Portu- 

 guese by force of arms. We also founded our claim upon 



86—90 G 



