No. 62.— 1909.] 



DUTCH EMBASSY. 



189 



three camels remained at the tdndyama. In the meantime 

 these gentlemen had their midday meal; and as soon as 

 they had finished the chiefs announced that the presents 

 had been safely deposited within two of the storehouses 

 attached to the tdndyama at Sitawaka within His Majesty's 

 dominions. The three islands and the lascorins (hevdpanne) 

 were then drawn up in two files ; and the three camels were 

 led through them, followed by the Ambassador and the other 

 gentlemen with the letter and the box. On reaching the 

 river bank the Ambassador bid the others farewell, and taking 

 the letter from the hands of the Disava* placed it on his own 

 head : as he was being conveyed across the river with his 

 suite, the three istancis fired three volleys from their guns, 

 the Ambassador's escort of soldiers doing the same on reaching 

 the further bank. After this the Ambassador, his suite, and 

 the chiefs from the Three Korales moved on, reaching the 

 tdndyama at Sitawaka at three o'clock in the afternoon, where 

 letter and box were deposited. On satisfying himself 

 as to the condition of the presents and the animals, the 

 Ambassador sent a despatch to His Excellency the Senhor, 

 our Governador, the same day reporting the progress he had 

 made. 



Nothing was done during the next four days [17th to 20th] 

 beyond inspecting the letter and presents. But on the evening 

 of Friday, the 21st, the Mohottala of the Three Korales appeared 

 with the information that news had been received of the 

 despatch of some chiefs from the Maha Wasala to Sitawaka, 

 and that he had to proceed to Ruwan-ella to meet them. He 

 started after obtaining the Ambassador's permission ; and on 

 the following day sent a message to the effect that the Disave 

 Ralahami of the Three and Seven Korales, with some other 

 chiefs, would arrive that evening at the tdndyama of 

 Kebellaruppe : which matter also was immediately reported 

 to His Excellency. Nothing worth relating occurred the 

 following day : but on the evening of Monday, the 24th, 

 news was received that seven chiefs were near at hand ; 

 whereupon the Ambassador and his suite advanced the 



* I.e., the Dutch Disava of Colombo. 



p2 



