No. 62.— 1909.] 



DUTCH EMBASSY. 



203 



be aware that repeated orders had been received from Their 

 High Mightinesses in Olanda for the custody of the ports, so 

 as to secure the safety and immunity and peaceful rule of His 

 Majesty ; and how could it be urged that no decided reply 

 had been given regarding the matter ? It had been clearly 

 stated in the presence of the Ambassador and of the chiefs 

 that, according to the orders received from Olanda, those 

 ports could never be opened. It was pointed out that, as 

 I had been the interpreter on the occasion, I would be well 

 aware of the fact ; whereupon I, Lewis de Saram, Wijesiri- 

 wardhana Maha Mudiyanse, added that emphatic orders had 

 been received from Olanda year after year up to date for 

 keeping the ports securely closed. Further, the Company and 

 His Excellency were steadfast in their unalterable deter- 

 mination to in every possible manner carry out the commands 

 of His Majesty ; and in this determination there had not been 

 the slightest change, and he (the Ambassador) begged that 

 the same may be so submitted to His Majesty, which they 

 promised to do. 



They then continued that one of their former Excellencies 

 had sent a carriage to the Maha Wasala which was still in 

 existence ; but of the horses some had died and the rest were 

 aged, and so the carriage could no longer be used ; they there- 

 fore begged the Ambassador to request His Excellency when 

 he returned to Colombo to send without delay two or four 

 handsome well- matched horses, which were strong and 

 accustomed to harness. The Ambassador replied that His 

 Excellency had used every effort to secure a powerful 

 white horse suitable for a present to His Majesty both in 

 the district of Jaffnapatam and also at Colombo, but to his 

 great disappointment he had not been able to do so; but 

 he would hot fail to despatch one as soon as he could succeed 

 in securing it. He had also written again for the birds called 

 Wesarammuda has, and he was hoping to be able to send them 

 to the Maha Wasala before he himself started for Batavia ; 

 and should he succeed in securing suitable horses for the 

 carriage, he would not fail to forward them without delay. 



The Disava then announced that His Majesty had decided 

 to give the Ambassador audience the following day. After 



q 26-Q9 



