316 



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



Furthermore, as the letters and presents from their 

 Worships at Batavia to the king have been lying here 

 with us up to the present moment, and as the said king, 

 though we have repeatedly requested him to send envoys to 

 take possession of the same, has hitherto failed to send any 

 person or persons to fetch the same, telling us in answer that 

 if the things were goods belonging to him, he should certainly 

 send for them, but that since they were presents destined for 

 him by their Worships out of great favour and affection to 

 him, it were but reasonable that they should be brought to 

 him ; 



The said Council considering that for the present we 

 have still to use dissimulation in our dealings with this 

 mistrustful king, and to humour him in everything as much 

 as we can — seeing that, unless we do so, greater harm may 

 ensue than we are now experiencing from him, 



Have resolved and approved of 



To send their Worships' letter and presents to Battecaloa in 

 these ships, in order to be brought to the court from there, 

 as the roads from here to Candy are not considered 

 particularly safe, the transport of the said presents being 

 entrusted to Pieter Marines, Assistant and Interpreter, 

 who, having for many years been a prisoner with the 

 Portuguese, thoroughly understands and speaks their 

 language, seeing that we dare not send thither any person 

 of greater consideration. 



It has also been resolved to let the fleet sail for Coromandel 

 by way of Battecaloa, 



MS. page 75. 



as soon as it shall have been provided with water and other 

 necessaries, as the good monsoon is every day blowing 

 more and more strongly, and the fleet will have to stay 

 some time at Battecaloa — the ship " Valekenburg " to remain 

 behind during a few days in order to take in the cinnamon 

 destined for us, and afterwards to follow the others. 



