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



After the Emperor of Ceilon had besieged the camp for 

 eight days, our people, who numbered in all 500 men, had 

 neither victuals nor chance of withdrawing from the place, 

 and seeing that they were completely hemmed in, they at 

 last had to surrender to the heathen with all they had. The 

 Emperor was so courteous (and, notwithstanding he is a 

 heathen, he is an exceedingly intelligent man) that not alone 

 in his camp but throughout his whole empire even he had 

 published the order, that under penalty of death it was for- 

 bidden to harm any of the Hollanders. He himself did not 

 treat them as prisoners, but as men who belonged to his 

 retinue ; he even had them brought before him, which is 

 a sign of particular imperial grace. 



Next, the King went towards the small camp, and desired 

 them to surrender according to custom. The Lieutenant, 

 however, who had 70 men with him, sent back a message that 

 " he had nothing for the Emperor but powder, bullets, and 

 the point of his sword ;" and in truth those he showed him 

 up to the fourteenth day, killing and wounding many, so 

 that the Emperor himself said they must be all very devils 

 inside, and not Hollanders. Then he asked one of the prisoners 

 of what nation the Lieutenant was, and on his answering that 

 he was an Allemand, and that most of the men with him were 

 Allemans, that is High Dutch, the Emperor said that if he 

 could get hold of him he would like him the better, and 

 honour him more than the Hollandish Captain. When one 

 of his men wanted to know the reason, he replied, " This 

 Captain had 500 men in his great camp, who did not want to 

 fight for their master and their country ; but the A llemand, 

 although in Hollandish service, remained true to them with 

 his few men, and would sooner have died than lose his 

 honour." 



During the night the Emperor sent a Hollandish prisoner 

 who knew the Lieutenant, to see him and to persuade him 

 to surrender. The messenger called the Lieutenant by name, 

 and told him that the party of Mr. von der Stalt was routed, 

 and he himself killed ; that the Captain in the great camp 



