No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 109 



demonstrating that the Company's right cannot be disputed, 

 by virtue of their conquest of the Portuguese. 



Everything remained in the same state in the following 

 year, 1689, without any prospect of coming to an arrangement 

 with the King of Candia. However, a rumour was spread that 

 great preparations for war were being made at Candia for 

 the purpose of expelling the Company from the Island 

 altogether. It was also stated that the French Ambassador 

 at the Court incited the Chiefs against us, and tried to induce 

 them to despatch another vessel with arecanuts under the 

 King's flag. A short time previous a vessel laden with 200 

 ammunams of arecanuts, and bound for the coast, was 

 allowed a passport at Calpetty, and the Governor of Corman- 

 del was instructed to afford every facility and assistance 

 required. This was done so as^to prevent the enemies of the 

 Company at Court from increasing His Majesty's ill-will 

 towards us. 



But tidings arrived soon afterwards from the Company's 

 officers at Calpetty, that a vessel larger than the former, flying 

 three white flags charged with three red lions, and loaded 

 with arecanuts, was about to leave Putulang for the coast. 



Orders were given to the officers not to allow any vessel to 

 pass without the Company's passports, and should the afore- 

 said vessel from Putulang attempt to pass Calpetty without 

 calling there, they were to detain it in the canal with sloops 

 and thonys. 



This was done, and in the following year, 1690, the real 

 owner of the vessel was discovered, as the Calpetty officers 

 wrote to Colombo to the effect that some Singalese, sent to 

 them by the Putulang Chiefs, requested them to let the 

 vessel with arecanuts, whose destination was Tutucoryn, 

 pass free. They were ordered not to comply with that 

 request, but to adhere strictly to the rules laid down. 



Not long after a vessel arrived at Calpetty from the coast, 

 bringing some curiosities for the King from the coast ; 

 but on being searched was found to contain a large 

 quantity of clothing, coast cloth, &c, for private persons. 



