No. 39. — 1891.] account of ceylon. 



275 



myself that when such a treasure was dug out human bones 

 lay close by, and in India this is a common occurrence. 



After, as before said, the Emperor had arrived at his castle 

 in Candi, he at once ordered to distribute the 600 Hollandish 

 prisoners in his country amongst the peasants and in the town ? 

 and that they should never be allowed to want ; otherwise 

 the royal displeasure would be incurred. But they were to 

 look well after their women, cows, oxen, &c, because the 

 Hollanders were very fond of women and all sorts of meat. 

 When afterwards complaints were made about misdeeds of 

 this kind, the Court replied that the natives had been well 

 warned beforehand, and they ought to have watched more 

 carefully. These were the King's Hollanders : and if a native 

 did not give his guest enough to eat, and refused to do so after 

 the latter had said to him, " Give me to eat in the Emperor's 

 name," and the Emperor was informed of it, the native was at 

 once thrown to the elephants and killed, and, according to 

 custom, had to lie unburied. A similar occurrence happened 

 amongst our people in the town of Candi. One of the 

 prisoners, an ensign, Cornel Salvegad from Utrecht, had 

 struck his Captain, although the latter had dealt the first 

 blow, and the former had only defended himself. However^ 

 when the Emperor, who would not hear of any disturbance 

 amongst our men, was informed of it, he ordered the Captain 

 to be asked what the custom amongst the Hollanders was if 

 a subaltern struck an officer of higher rank. When he received 

 the reply that a subaltern forfeited his life, he ordered the 

 ensign to be arrested. A week afterwards judgment was 

 given, that he should be thrown before an elephant ; and 

 although our people, including the Captain himself, went 

 down on their knees to beg for mercy, the King's order 

 remained unaltered, and the reply was given that, according 

 to their custom, their master's order was irrevocable. There- 

 upon the poor fellow was taken away and tied to a pole. 

 At first he was in hopes of receiving a reprieve ; but when 

 he saw that there was no chance, he prayed with great 

 fervour, and commended himself to God's mercy. When 



