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



General had not sent previous notice that he was going to 

 storm, he was very angry, and wrote to him to say that, 

 according to the treaty, Colombo, if it had been taken, would 

 ' have been half his. The General ought, therefore, to have 

 communicated with him, and to have allowed his soldiers to 

 take part in the assault. This difficult undertaking ought not 

 to have been attempted single-handed, but jointly. 



When our General noticed the King's temper, and being 

 aware that he had made a mistake, he resolved to at once 

 send an ambassador to the King, with assurances of great 

 respect, and his apologies, and also with a certain promise to 

 take the place ; but the King must have a little patience. 



Anno 1656. 



On the 25th of January Captain Johan Hartmann,* of Cassel 

 in Hesse, volunteered to go to the Emperor with every mark 

 of respect. The Emperor would not receive him until the 

 third day, and then he summoned him to offer his presents, 

 which were very graciously accepted. As the Emperor was 

 very anxious about Golumbo, he did not keep our Captain 

 very long : gave him a gold chain and an elephant, and very 

 soon sent him off again to our General with other presents,, 

 in return, many jewels, and two elephants for the Company,! 



On the 2nd of February the said Captain returned with a 

 letter to our General and the Company, stating that it would 

 be well not to attempt in future a hazardous undertaking 

 without his (the King's) knowledge, as he was very sorry to 

 see so many good soldiers needlessly sacrificed by us. 



On the 18th February we began again to approach the 

 town, as every day new soldiers turned up, who had recovered 

 at Mattavval, and who could be better fed in the camp, 

 because the Emperor sent fresh food every day, and victuals of 

 all kinds were cheap. When we got near the town one of 



* Jan Hartman (Dutch ed.). 



t For details and copies of letters, see Baldeeus. 



