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



our long possession, and the castles and fortresses would be 

 useless without lands, neither could the garrisons be fed 

 without them. 



There were some other occupied lands and provinces 

 however, of importance in other respects, and to which 

 different considerations apply, namely, those of Batticaloa, 

 which are indeed very convenient, but too difficult to keep, 

 as 100 or 150 Singalese or Weddasse could easily disperse 

 the inhabitants of that place or take them to the mountains.. 



Although the trade there was of little value, the situation 

 was of great importance to the Europeans, as if once settled 

 upon the island Poeliandivoe, they could with the connivance 

 of the Singalese procure elephants, cinnamon, arecanuts,* 

 timber, or rice, and also establish a factory there for all 

 goods required by the Singalese ; and thus reap a greater 

 benefit from that place alone than the Company derived 

 from the whole of Ceilon. 



Trinconamale, being a dependency of Jaffanapatnam, there 

 was no necessity to negotiate with the King about it, as it did 

 not concern His Majesty ; while on the west side of the Island 

 it would be sufficient for the Company to keep the lands of 

 Colombo, from Gourbewille to Angoeroetotte, &c, as well as 

 those of Gale, Mature, and Nigombo, as they had been pos- 

 sessed till the year 1664, but were entered on in the years 

 1670 and 1672. If the Singalese insist upon these lands being 

 returned, [it were better] to assent upon the condition of the 

 free gathering of the cinnamon in the wild Pittigal Corle 

 and the lands thus surrendered. 



We might also allow the King to participate in the profits 

 of the elephants and other advantages, such as levying of 

 taxes, &c. These concessions should all be granted, provided 

 His Majesty is sincerely inclined to peace. 



Although the war in Ceilon had caused great loss to the 



* What has often in these pages been called arreeli (arecanuts) is a 

 nut much in use in the Indies ; the Malays call it pinang. The use 

 made of it is the following : — They take a betel leaf, rub a little wet 

 lime on it, add a piece of arecanut, roll it together, and put it in the 

 mouth. The Malays call this a sirih quid. 



