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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XI. 



to appropriate nine villages belonging to the Company by 

 putting up a stake and a piece of cloth bound to it. 



Some native officers were sent to investigate the affair. 



The messengers stated on their return that it was true that 

 the King's people had taken possession of seven villages and a 

 large extent of the rice fields, to the extent altogether of 110 

 amunams, as well as chenas and owittes, in the King's name. 

 Whereupon the Governor and Council resolved, whilst waiting 

 for orders thereon from Batavia, to try and settle the matter 

 amicably by a letter to the Chiefs; but in case no satisfaction 

 was given, to wash their hands of any serious consequences 

 the refusal might involve. No immediate answer was 

 obtained, but soon after an Ambassador arrived from Candia. 

 Remonstrances were made to him concerning the doings in 

 the Hina Corle, and the wish was expressed to have the matter 

 settled through his mediation. 



The result was that these disturbances and unjust actions 

 were discontinued, but not without many disputes on the 

 part of the Candians. Meanwhile they continued their 

 anderhand work of smuggling, to the prejudice of the Company, 

 and the Court took but slight notice of the many remon- 

 strances and complaints addressed to it. 



In the beginning of the following year, 1744, when the 

 Company expostulated regarding the extensive smuggling 

 carried on by the Coast Moors between Calpetty and Nigombo, 

 the chief Court Adigaar contemptuously replied that when 

 the Company opened the port of Putulang the smuggling 

 would cease of itself, as the King's subjects were obliged to 

 find an outlet for the disposal of their goods to the greatest 

 advantage, and that the Company was continually complain- 

 ing of losses, but they would possibly suffer still more if 

 that port was not opened, as the smuggling was of much 

 benefit to the King. 



The people of Putulang also felt aggrieved that the chief 

 at Calpetty had refused to allow the departure of fifteen boats 

 with arecanuts and other goods from that place to Kilkare. 



A certain Naiker, calling himself the King's father-in-law,. 



