No. 62. — 1909.] dutch embassy. 



195 



under a salute of ten guns. But when we were ready to start the 

 next afternoon [8th] at one o'clock, the Ambassador informed 

 the chiefs that out of the three camels, the female animal 

 was refusing its food and was apparently in poor health. They 

 thereupon declared that as the mud was thick on the road 

 after the heavy rain, and the animal was unwell, it was not 

 desirable to remove them just then ; and they arranged to 

 detain them till the rain ceased and the animal had recovered, 

 the Disava of the Four Korales undertaking to remain behind 

 and to follow on with them. The Ambassador then started 

 with the rest of the chiefs, and by half -past six in the evening 

 reached the tdndyama at Attapitiya without any accident, 

 entering it under a salute of ten guns. At noon the following 

 day, which was Wednesday the 9th, the three animals 

 arrived ; and as the female animal was found to take its food 

 as usual it was thought to have recovered from the malady : of 

 which fact and of his own. movement forward His Excellency 

 was duly apprised by a letter from the Ambassador. 



Nothing worth recording occurred on the two following [10th, 

 11th] days ; but on the afternoon of the 12th, on information 

 being received of the approach of two chiefs from the Maha 

 Wasala, the Ambassador and the chiefs who were with him 

 advanced the usual distance to meet them. These were Dehi- 

 gama,* the Nanayakkara Mohottala Hami, and Hiyambalan- 

 gamuwe Muhandiram Mahatmaya, who were accompanied by a 

 few armed men. On their arrival rose water was sprinkled 

 and they were conducted to the tdndyama, where the usual 

 inquiries were made in His Majesty's name and satisfactory 

 answers returned. The Mohottala then announced the further 

 commands of His Majesty; which were to the effect that, 

 pending the despatch of some important chiefs to accom- 

 pany the Ambassador and his mission, the five following, 

 viz., Leupe Moho^ala Hami, Hendeniye Kuruwe Mohottala 

 Hami, Tumpanahe Rate Ralahami, and Ko^agaloluwa and 

 Iriyagama Muhandirams were to remain with the Ambas- 

 sador and attend to his wants, while the Disava of the Three 



* Dehigama Navaratna Atapattu Wahala Mudiyanse, Kodituwakku 

 L6kam in 1721. — H. W. C. 



