No. 50. — 1899.] van bck's kandyan expedition. 55 



is just what he foretold. Mine eyes are eagerly longing to behold 

 what my heart wishes.* As God wills it, so shall it happen. 



It is reported that a large force of Sinhalese is encamped at Sitavake-, 

 having come with great reinforcements. At present their exaspera- 

 tion is great. They are cutting off the noses, ears, extremities, calves 

 of the legs, heels, and necks of both blacks and whites, for since the 

 capture of Candia they care no longer for peace. 



Letter H. 



Extract from a letter dated April 15, 1765, written from Colombo. 



As regards the affairs of this Island I doubt not but that Mr f 



has given you a general outline. After the capture of Candia 

 Mr. Rein was sent thither as Commandant, with the Assistant Merchant 

 Stork as "Dispencier," and several other servants. But after the death 

 of His Excellency the Governor, Mr„ Rein was again summoned hither 

 by the local Political Council in order to carry on the administration 

 here, after that he had entrusted every thing to Colonel Feber. But 

 just four days previously, Colonel Feber had set out thence for this 

 place and had withdrawn several posts, so he considered it impossible to 

 again undertake the return march, and thus he arrived here. The 

 passage between this and Candia is at present barred in so far that 

 no further interchange of letters can be had. 



The said Mr. Rein was, according to the account of Colonel Feber 

 and his own letters to me, lying sick of the ague, and Mr. Stork was 

 sick unto death. Of the latter, the report is now current that he is 

 dead. It is also said that most of the servants there are ill, and that 

 all are suffering from great want of provisions, so that they can obtain 

 nothing else but rice. At present the strong conviction, which will 

 gain ground still more, is that it would have been a desirable thing if 

 a peace had been concluded, seeing that it was brought by the 

 Sinhalese themselves in the first instance, and proffered on the most 

 favourable terms. 



Letter J. 



Later extract from a letter from and to as above, dated May 20, 1765. 

 Now, as regards news, everything still appears very bad, for the road 

 to and from Candia is still occupied and barred, so that letters cannot 

 pass hither and thither. What the result of this will be, time alone 

 will unfold. However, it would have been a desirable thing if the 

 peace, which was so favourably proposed, had been accepted, and if a 

 certain Albeschik,% well known to you, had not been in the game which 

 he has pushed too far. 



* The man Ion ged to see me as Governor. — Marginal note, 

 f Lacuna in manuscript. 



% This "certain Albeschik" is identified with the Secretary Angelbeek. — 

 Marginal note. [Albeschik means " busy-body." — A. E. B.] 



