No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 119 



During all these years nothing of moment occurred at the 

 Candian Court, until at the end of the year 1729 our 

 Ambassador was sent on a mission to the King. 



On his arrival not only was he treated with scant courtesy, 

 but he was only admitted once to audience by the King, 

 while the Candians between Trinconomale and Batticaloa 

 detained the Company's letters, drove away the lascoreens, 

 and finally prevented the purchase of paddy. Complaint of 

 all this being made by ola to the Court Adigar, he denied the 

 detention of the letters, and ascribed the short supply of 

 paddy to the exceptionally dry weather experienced in the 

 last few years, adding, that there would be no more scarcity, 

 as the crops looked very promising. 



The following years, 1730 and 1731, were again passed in 

 peace, and the Court was in a most friendly mood. 



On August 25, 1732, Heer Stephanus Versluys departed to 

 Bataviaand surrendered the Government to the JafEanapatnam 

 Command eur Gualterus "Woutersz, and the Political Council 

 of Colombo, who carried it on until the arrival as Commis- 

 sioner of Ceilon of His Honour Heer Jacob Christiaan Pielat, 

 Councillor Extraordinary of the Netherlands-India, on 

 December 2 of the same year. 



Before the end of December the gravets were again closed, 

 and all communication with and descent of the Singalese 

 into the Company's land prevented. Some of the rebels at the 

 three passes of Mabol, Pasbetaal, and Naklegam went to the 

 length of erecting stakes, covered with leaves and cloth, to 

 denote that the roads and passes were closed. The stakes 

 were pulled down and thrown away, and the bystanders 

 informed that it was an insult to the Company, but that 

 we did not believe that these insults had been perpetrated 

 with the knowledge of the Court. 



At the commencement of the year 1733 some courtiers came 

 down with an ola containing, besides many expressions of 

 goodwill, some complaints about the great damage His Majesty 

 had suffered since the time of the closing of the ports, and that 

 the yearly presents to His Majesty had become of less value, &c. 



