278 



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



This an Ambassador from the King of Bengalee experi- 

 enced Anno 1643. This King sent to the Emperor of Gandi a 

 live rhinoceros. Besides this present for the Emperor the 

 messenger received much gold to buy elephants from the 

 Emperor. Although there are many of these in Bengala he 

 wanted to see whether it was true that his elephants would 

 fall down upon their knees before those of Ceilon, as it were 

 to show their subjection. Now, it is true that, clumsy and 

 unwieldy an animal as an elephant would appear, he is 

 almost as intelligent as a man, and as far as the above remarks 

 are concerned I have seen it myself Anno 1659 in Batavia, 

 that when elephants from these two countries meet by 

 chance, those from Bengala at once bend their knees before 

 those from Ceilon, for reasons which God only knows. 

 When the Emperor of Ceilon had heard the Ambassador's 

 message, and that he had much money from his king to 

 purchase elephants with, he was displeased, and said he was 

 no merchant, he did not sell elephants, but the Hollanders 

 were trading in them, and from them he could get them. 

 He then arrested the Ambassador, and kept him for fifteen 

 years, until all the money was spent which his king had given 

 him. After that time the Emperor set him at liberty, made 

 him a present of two elephants, and ordered him to tell his 

 king that in future he had better apply for his purchases to 

 the Hollanders, who would be glad to receive his money, and 

 more besides. 



As we knew the danger by past occurrences, nobody 

 seemed inclined at the beginning to go to Gandi as an 

 Ambassador. At last, however, a merchant and twelve 

 soldiers made up their minds, and started across country 

 from Piinte de Galle on the 1st of April. When they arrived, 

 they had to wait six days before they could see the Emperor. 

 (These heathen are very particular as to auspicious days, and 

 for matters of importance they prefer Sunday and Thursday. 

 On a Friday they would do nothing at all, and even to put on 

 another coat, whatever might be the occasion, would be 

 considered exceedingly imprudent.) On the sixth day the 



