NO. 50, — 1899.] VAN ECK'S KANDYAN EXPEDITION. 



49 



was ready to row, and amidst the firing of twenty-one cannon 

 set out from Nigombo, and arrived by the providence of God 

 in complete health at 5 P.M. at the pass of Naklegam. Here 

 His Excellency was welcomed by the gentlemen and ladies 

 of distinction and other qualified persons, and proceeding 

 into the castle was received with particular joy and gladness 

 amidst the firing of the cannon on the walls. 



Thus do I herewith bring this Journal to an end. 



Journal of a Captain of the Candian Expedition. 



At 6 A.M. on February 19 [1765] the advance guard with 

 a large part of the corps crossed over the river, and His 

 Excellency followed with the other troops, leaving a sentinel 

 at the river as well as at all other places, and arrived at 

 about 11 o'clock at the royal palace. This was inspected by 

 all, each remarking to the other with great astonishment, 

 how it was possible for a black king to have such a palace. 

 Shortly after it was inspected this castle was plundered, 

 and everything given up for booty. There was much 

 treasure, consisting of gold, silver, precious stones, gold and 

 silver cloths, velvets, silk stuffs, fine linen of all sorts, in 

 abundance. For three days the men did nothing else but 

 roam and plunder, so that everything has been ruined, both 

 the walls and the doors, which were plated with silver, and 

 now stripped of everything, it is a most miserable spectacle. 



On the 25, while we were there, it was reported to His 

 Excellency by a European that the king was at Hageren- 

 Jcitti, and that there was a royal palace. At once a 

 commander was despatched thither with the same orders to 

 plunder everything. He returned in the evening with some 

 booty. 



On the 26th instant, a second commander set out to the 

 same castle, robbed and plundered the remaining goods 

 which were still there, and set fire to the rest, so that at 



27-99 E 



