No. 50.— -1899.] VAN ECK'S kandyan expedition. 47 



On Thursday, the 28th, there arrived here the Predikant 

 Philipsz and the Mohotiaar of the Gate, Don Simon de Zilva, 

 who were summoned from Colombo, until the recovery from 

 sickness of the Field Maha modliaar, Ilangacoon. 



March. 



On Friday, the 1st March, Major Frankena, with a small 

 force of men, undertook to make a tour to the Four Korles, 

 and after some destruction returned. Only one man was 

 lost, and the native soldiers received some wounds. On the 

 return march two of our spies were found hanged, and in 

 retaliation for this spiteful injury His Excellency ordered that 

 three Sinhalese spies, who were caught by chance, should 

 meet a similar death. 



On Saturday, the 2nd, His Excellency the Governor 

 despatched a letter to the assembly of the magnates of the 

 court. 



On Sunday, the 3rd, Captain Duflo, Lieutenant Legrand, 

 and Ensign Lowendaal were engaged anew in the Company's 

 service, the first as Major,* the second as Captain-Lieutenant, 

 and the last as Lieutenant. 



On Monday, the 4th, after His Excellency the Governor 

 had entrusted the management and direction of affairs to 

 Colonel Feber till the arrival of the Commandant Mr. Rein, 

 who was expected, he set out after 6 A.M. from Kandia in 

 company with Lieutenant-Colonel Van Wezel, the Secretary 

 Van Angelbeek, and the Predikant Philipsz. They arrived at 

 12 A.M. at Giriagamme without any hostile encounter. But 

 before His Excellency's arrival there were two Sinhalese 

 from the enemy's stragglers that showed themselves on the 

 hills in small parties and now and then fired some shots on 

 our people, that did remain behind, and approached without 



* The Dutch Records, Colombo, contain many interesting letters in 

 French from this Major Duflo, who seems to have been constantly employed 

 in the field against the Kandyans during the prevalence of the tedious 

 hostilities which preceded this expedition and culminated in the Peace of 

 1766. See Appendix B. — B., Hon, Sec. 



