No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 115 



The only thing of importance during that period was the 

 departure of some chiefs to the Court of Madure to fetch one 

 of the Princesses of the so-called " Sun race " as a bride for 

 the King ; for whose conveyance the Company was requested 

 to place a vessel at His Majesty's disposal. This was furnished; 

 as also a similar one to convey two Ambassadors to that Court 

 to arrange the betrothal between that Princess and His 

 Majesty. 



In August of the same year three Ambassadors arrived at 

 Colombo on behalf of the King, announcing the illness of 

 His Majesty and the election of a Crown Prince. Before the 

 end of the month another Ambassador arrived, announcing 

 His Majesty's death. 



Thereupon an Ambassador was sent to the Court with 

 some valuable presents : his mission was to offer the 

 Company's condolence upon the death of the late King, 

 and their congratulations to his successor. 



The Ambassador upon his return reported the very flatter- 

 ing reception he had met with from the new King. 



On November 8 following it was definitely decided to 

 execute the orders issued by their Excellencies in 1703 

 concerning the closing of the ports. The measures taken 

 in 1704 and 1705 having cleared the way, in order to carry 

 them out more effectually regulations were drawn up and 

 confirmed by the Council of Ceilon on the same date. 



In the same month (November) the Governor Cornelis 

 Joannes Simons transferred the Government to Heer Hendrik 

 Bekker, Extraordinary Councillor of Netherlands-India, and 

 everything remained in a peaceable state. The Company 

 anticipated much good from the new King. 



At the commencement of the following year, 1708, some 

 courtiers came to Colombo with tidings that some of the 

 courtiers had conspired against the life of the new King, 

 but that their plans had not succeeded, and that the guilty 

 had been discovered and put to death. 



In July His Majesty sent information to the Governor 

 and the Council of the day on which he intended to 



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