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



Wannias ; which expedition was unsuccessful. Also that 

 the chief of Jaffnapatnam and some officers and soldiers, 

 altogether about thirty, were killed, the rest having fled. 

 Nevertheless the Emperor said that I should be sent away 

 to announce to Your Excellency his Imperial affection and 

 regard, which the Emperor has always shown before this, and 

 still showed, to his trusty Hollanders in my presence, and 

 although this had happened, the Emperor said that his trusty 

 Hollanders had stolen his Imperial heart, and that therefore 

 he could not be angry or offended ; for the Emperor said 

 there was not a man before him or before the Honourable 

 Company, who did not believe absolutely that the same took 

 place without orders from Your Excellency, his trusty 

 Governor ; and God forbid that Your Excellency should 

 send out a force to revenge yourself ; they had brought it 

 about on themselves, for they are beasts who dwell in the 

 woods and wilds, and never hold converse with men. 



The Emperor having uttered these words, I returned to 

 my quarters, on the orders of His Majesty. 



A few days after I had appeared before His Majesty there 

 came to me in the middle of the night about fifteen to sixteen 

 chiefs, with a dead fowl and a stinking elk, which they 

 presented to me, saying, " We chiefs are come to you on the 

 orders of His Majesty to present you with an elk ; in that 

 the Emperor has always been much pleased with the letters, 

 with you, and with all the Hollanders, he could not, and 

 should not, neglect from day to day to make more and more 

 presents to the honour of the Honourable Company." 

 Adding that the Emperor had also presented such a beast to 

 the Ambassador Draak, of blessed memory. To which I 

 replied, and acknowledged that, although a private indi- 

 vidual, I had enjoyed the greatest honour from His Majesty, 

 for which I was bound to be thankful ; and asked the chiefs 

 to bring in the elk, which was done. No sooner, however, 

 had those who brought the elk removed the cloth, than they 

 all ran away without taking leave, except two, who remained 

 to hear what I had to say, and to witness my pleasure and 



