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



135 



also had the presumption to arrest at Wattekandel in the 

 King's name the Jaffanapatnam master of the horse and a 

 Koraool with five horses, besides the Mantot Vidaan of the 

 elephants, with the tame animals he had with him. 



All this was done for the purpose of compelling the 

 Governor and Council to allow the said Naiker to take his 

 vessel to the coast. The Company's servants at Calpetty 

 were instructed to lodge a protest before the Chiefs at 

 Putulang against these actions, to patiently await the result, 

 but to cruise meanwhile all ialong the coast to prevent the 

 smuggling. 



The Naiker had further the audacity to stop the Mature 

 superintendent of elephants (Gagenaik) with his beasts at 

 the river Wiletjeoje on his way to Wattekandel. This being 

 reported to Colombo, the officers at Calpetty were ordered to 

 refuse the Naiker passage to the coast until he released the 

 elephants, &c. 



Meanwhile two Appoehamies were sent with an ola to the 

 Court complaining of the detention of the elephants at 

 Wattekandel. Upon their return they reported that His 

 Majesty condemned that action, and had given orders for the 

 immediate release of the animals, but [considered] that the 

 Company had also committed a great fault in detaining the 

 Naiker, as the Court understood that the Company's Ambassa- 

 dor had promised him a free passage without any hindrance. 



Another ola was sent to the Chiefs, worded in the 

 strongest terms, requesting the exemplary punishment of all 

 those implicated in the detention of the elephants. 



The Governor maintained that if we were satisfied with 

 mere restitution for such an insult, we might daily expect 

 fresh offence from this unreasonable Court. 



The Candian Court seeing that we were putting down all 

 disturbances and preventing smuggling by cruising 

 everywhere, moved heaven and earth, as it were, to continue 

 it ; but being unsuccessful, they pushed things to extremity, 

 as the Naiker threatened that if his two vessels were not 

 allowed to depart he would prevent the transmission of the 



