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



even if I wanted a thousand, or a thousand and a half, there 

 would be no lack of them, and they could be given me. Where- 

 upon, I answered that seven or eight coolies would be 

 sufficient. The chiefs then said : — " You will depart in the 

 morning on the orders of the Emperor to Colombo, and you 

 will be pleased to report there what you have seen, and what 

 happened on the way." Whereupon I replied that I hoped 

 so, and that I was bound to report the orders of His Majesty 

 faithfully and honestly to your Excellency. 



Then the chiefs went away, and I longed for the morning 

 again ; but it was the same falsehood I had heard from them 

 the whole time I was up there. 



The next day I again ordered my officers of the watch 

 to notify to His Majesty that I was ready ; which the chiefs 

 before-mentioned undertook to do, and did. But the 

 aforesaid chiefs reported to me that there were still some 

 coolies wanting who had to be got together, and that in the 

 morning there would certainly be nothing more wanted. 

 These messengers having first left, returned a little while 

 afterwards, on the orders of His Majesty ; but were ashamed, 

 and would tell no more lies. 



They thereupon brought with them Antlumius oVOrte, and 

 Paulas of Copenhagen, who said that they had been sent by 

 the Emperor to keep me company, as I was alone, and if I 

 was not satisfied and not willing to remain there, I should 

 certainly depart next morning. The two persons above- 

 named said also, " God grant that we be sent away for 

 certain" ; whilst speaking these words, the tears burst out of 

 their eyes, and they wept bitterly. They sought my assistance 

 in money, which I gave them, according to my means and 

 the order of your Excellency, in the presence of the chiefs 

 and my two lascoreens, for which they most gratefully 

 thanked the Honourable Company and myself. 



These two men also told me in the course of conversation 

 that the Emperor had caused Vandenbergh to be beheaded ; 

 because he, Francois Vandenbergh, who had been in the 

 service of the Emperor as Commander-in-Chief of his 



