No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 101 



Majesty and the Company, to which arrangement His Impe- 

 rial Majesty had declared his satisfaction. That by article 

 2 of the old contract, as explained to His Imperial Majesty, 

 he was not entitled to two-thirds, but only to a half share. 



3. That the Company did not profit by the treasures said 

 to have been left at Raygamwatte. 



4. That, lastly, the revenues and taxes of the lands 

 were of so little value that they would not compensate the 

 Company a thousandth part for the expenses to which they 

 had been put : that the Ambassador had no present power 

 to come to a definite arrangement with regard to the absolute 

 grant of some towns and forts, but must report further to the 

 Governor. He requested His Imperial Majesty to write to the 

 Governor at the same time about it. 



With regard to the second point, about excluding other 

 nations from participation in the traffic, and the closing of 

 His Majesty's ports, that His Majesty had by article 10 of 

 the contract of the year 1638 promised that no other nation 

 should be allowed to deal or barter, but that the Company 

 should be sole purchasers of all articles. 



That in opening the ports indiscriminately, none would 

 benefit more than a pack of villainous and wicked Chalias or 

 Straits Moors. They were a rabble, who insinuated them- 

 selves everywhere to oust the Company, and who had never 

 done any service to the kingdom, as the Company had done 

 and could still do. Should the Company be deprived of the 

 arecanut and cloth trade (as would certainly be the case if 

 the ports were opened), they would not be able to maintain 

 the trusty Hollanders for His Majesty's service, nor find them 

 their monthly pay. Besides which His Majesty's subjects 

 would lose great advantages, as then the free navigation from 

 Mallabaar must be left open ; while at present the exporta- 

 tion of arecanuts from there was prevented at great expense, 

 thereby causing the price of Ceilon nuts to remain high, 

 which the opening of free navigation from Mallabaar would 

 again cause it to decline in value, and cause great loss to the 

 people of this country. And considering the great advantage 



