No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 117 



prevent us from sending to His Majesty an Ambassador with 

 costly presents, who was received with great cordiality. 

 His Majesty professed ignorance of the closing of the 

 gravets, but promised that they should be opened again, and 

 the arecanuts and provisions be carried down to Colombo as 

 usual. 



At the end of the year 1716 Governor Hendrik Bekker 

 was relieved of the administration by Heer Isaac Augustin 

 Rumpf, Councillor Extraordinary of Netherlands-India. 

 Although the gravets remained closed during the next year, 

 1717, the Candians brought provisions, but no arecanuts. 



In 1718 the King desired that free navigation should be 

 granted at Putulang. 



In 1719 the gravets were once more opened, and free per- 

 mission given to his subjects to travel to and fro between the 

 mountains and the lowlands. 



In 1720 some chiefs arrived at Colombo from Candia, 

 strongly urging on the part of the King the opening of the 

 port of Putulang. During the conference they were given to 

 understand that Calpetty was the Company's seaport, whilst 

 Putulang was the King's inner port (the former was separated 

 by a lake) ; and strict orders were given by the authorities 

 at home not to open either that or any other of the Com- 

 pany's ports, it being contrary to all rules of the State. 



In the following year, 1721, the Governor was informed by 

 the officers at Calpetty that the Moors of Kilkare were look- 

 ing for a trading place somewhere between Koedre Male and 

 Moddergamme, thinking by that means to be enabled to 

 introduce cotton goods free into the King's dominions ; also 

 that they had detained the Company's letters, and threatened 

 to impale alive the Kangaan at Palangande, should he or 

 his people aid in transporting any more of the Company's 

 letters. Whereupon these servants at Calpetty were ordered 

 to despatch another Kangaan and a corporal with six 

 or more good soldiers well armed, to Palangande ; and at the 

 same time to send at least sixteen men (amongst them some 

 well acquainted with the country and perfectly trustworthy), 



