284 



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



In Matara, facing the river approach, is a picturesque 

 gateway, access to which was given by a drawbridge. The 

 pediment is the shape of an arc with its chord. The space 

 within the pediment is decorated with the monogram of 

 the Dutch East India Company in an ornamental setting. 

 Over the door, carved in wood, are the arms of Governor van 

 Eck.* Over this again is the name of the fort, which was 

 called after the Governor who built it, " Redoute van Eck." 

 Below the coat of arms are his initials, L. I. V. E., and the 

 date 1763. Although the material is wood, this piece of work 

 is in perfect preservation. The keystone of the arch bears 

 this inscription on the outside : — 



A DE LY 

 OPPERKOOPMAN EN 

 SECUNDE VAN HET 

 GAALS COMMANt 

 MITSGS DESSAVE 

 DESERLANDEN 

 A° MDCCLXV. 



and on the inside : — 



I. H. LAPPE 

 CAPN. 

 I. I. ENTINK Lt. 

 INGENIEURS 

 EXEC. 



Translation. — A. de Ly, Opperkoopman and Second in 

 Command at Gaal (Galle), as well as Dessave of these 

 Districts, MDCCLXV. A.D. Built by I. H. Lappe, Captain, 

 I. I. Entink, Lieut., Engineers. 



Arnoldus de Ly was Commandeur of Galle shortly after- 

 wards. J. H. Lappe was a " Captain-Engineer" at Galle in 

 1766.f " On the 12th of July [1770] the Captain-Engineer 

 of Trinkenemale, Jan Hendrik Lappe, met with an unhappy 

 death while riding on horseback. Seeing the low branch 

 of a tree he bent down, and thinking he had already passed 



* See Plate 28, L.Z. 



f See 2 C.L.R. 365 and 412. 



