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



they would again have more opportunities for showing their 

 importance and ridiculing the credulity of the Hollanders. 

 Their disposition showed itself at the same time in the King's 

 pretended displeasure that no Netherlander had accompanied 

 the present. 



Governor Lourens Pyl was at last relieved and returned to 

 Batavia. He was on January 28, 1692, succeeded by the 

 Extraordinary Councillor of Netherlands-India, Heer Thomas 

 van Rhee, Governor Pyl having first apprised the Candian 

 Court of his departure for Batavia. 



During the five succeeding years, under the rule of Governor 

 van Rhee, he had the satisfaction of seeing the lands remain 

 quiet, the King continue in good humour, and the cinnamon 

 gathered in peace. Only in the year 1696, the greater part 

 of the Chalias having fled to the King's lands, the courtiers 

 gave information to the Governor of their own accord ; 

 adding that these people had said that they had run away in 

 consequence of the harsh treatment of the overseer of the 

 cinnamon, but that nevertheless, in consideration of the 

 harmony existing between the Court and the Company, 

 these Chalias would be sent back. 



This being shortly afterwards done, the men had the 

 effrontery to present themselves before the Governor and 

 request, under various frivolous pretences, not to be again 

 sent into the woods : whereupon the Governor had ten of the 

 principal mutineers put in chains. 



Heer Paulus de Roo was in the meantime elected Governor 

 and Director in 1695, but died the same year, while still 

 Commissary of Souratte. 



Governor van Rhee thus continued to rule until February 

 22, 1697, when he was replaced by Heer Gerrit de Heere. 



The change of Governors made no change in the harmoni- 

 ous relations between the Court and the Company, This 

 was further proved by the unsolicited surrender, by orders of 

 His Majesty, of some lascoreens who had fled to the King's 

 lands. Five of the ringleaders were put in chains, and the 

 remainder of the rabble driven away. 



