NO. 40.— 1890.] EMBASSY TO KANDY, 1671. 



363 



gratitude to the Emperor for such a present. This greatly 

 astonished and gratified these two, and they said that they 

 must themselves, or through another, acquaint His Majesty 

 of this. Whereupon they left, and I desired to accompany 

 them a little outside the door, which they would not 

 hear of. 



I at once took my leave and went to the stinking beast, and 

 called the lascoreens of the watch to skin it ; which was 

 done. After skinning it, I took the four feet and the same 

 night distributed them among the chiefs who kept watch 

 round my quarters, viz., one Oedepalate Dessave, one Tompine 

 Raterale, one Oedenoere Rale, one Jadenoere Rale, and Hac- 

 crougammene Rale, addressing them thus : " As you have 

 kept watch round my lodgings so long in honour of the 

 Honourable Company and my person, necessarily you cannot 

 partake of the presents from His Majesty. Therefore I ask 

 that having accepted such present in honour of His Majesty, 

 you should take the same and eat it to the honour of His 

 Majesty and his health." And they, rising from their sleep, 

 received it and held Council all night till daybreak : then 

 the chiefs caused the flesh to be cut up, and distributed 

 among their lascoreens. 



But I kept for myself the tongue and heart, and told the 

 chiefs that the Emperor's tongue and heart were always 

 true and upright towards his trusty Hollanders, and that I 

 should use the same to eat to the health of His Majesty. His 

 Majesty's guards at once communicated this to His Majesty, 

 through a certain courtier, who brought me my food daily 

 on the orders of the Emperor. I said at the same time that 

 I should be glad to be soon sent away. Whereupon the 

 guards replied that my departure was certainly nigh, and 

 that I should be ready at any hour, as there was wanting 

 nothing but His Majesty's order. 



I have always shown a cheerful and friendly face ; and 

 having waited some weeks, I desired again to appear before 

 the Emperor, which was promised me by many messengers, 

 with thousands of lies from day to day. 



8—93 e 



