No. 39.-1889.] account of ceylon. 



279 



Emperor requested the attendance of our Ambassador as well 

 as of the Portuguese Ambassador. He first inquired from 

 the latter whether he had sufficient soldiers to drive the 

 Hollanders out of the island ; when he replied no, because 

 at that time no soldiers could be expected from Portugal, 

 where the King had a big war with Spain, the Emperor 

 inquired from the Hollanders whether they would under- 

 take to chase the Portuguese out of the island. As the reply 

 to this was in the affirmative, the Emperor took the present 

 which the Portuguese had given — namely, a hat with a clasp 

 of gold and several stones, and with a bird of Paradise as 

 plumage, and in the presence of the Portuguese gave it to our 

 Ambassador. In return, he requested the present of a small 

 dog which the Ambassador had with him ; and as this 

 exchange was not disadvantageous, our Ambassador was very 

 much pleased thereat. The Portuguese Ambassador had to 

 leave without success. 



After our Ambassadors had been kept by the Emperor of 

 Gandi for eight months, during which time they were always 

 free to communicate by messengers with our Governor at 

 Piinte de Galle, it appeared that the merchant was not quite 

 intelligent enough to treat with the Emperor. The latter, 

 therefore, in December sent a special messenger to our 

 Governor, and requested that a soldier should be sent, and 

 not a merchant, to treat with him. Thereupon the old man 

 was recalled and allowed to depart in peace.* 



Anno 1648. 



In this year, on the 5th of February, a Captain of the name 

 of Burckard Koch,f from Wesel (from whom I eventually 

 received an honourable discharge), was sent in the name of 



* The merchant was Laurens Maerschalk. For details of the correspon- 

 dence that took place between the Dutch and the King - in consequence of 

 the massacre of Van der Stel and his company, see C. A. S. Journal, 

 1889, p. 87 et seq. 



f Burckard Koh (Dutch ed.). Called Burgard Cox in the Beknopte 

 Historic. He does not appear to have gone to Kandy until 1649. (See 

 C. A. S. Journal, 1889, p. 45.) 



16—91 K 



