No. 62. — 1909.] dutch Embassy. 



207 



Honourable Members of his Council he wished His Majesty- 

 many years of continued health and prosperity.* 



After tendering to His Majesty in the Company's name his 

 humble thanks for the great kindness which had been shown, 

 he further begged for permission to have cinnamon peeled in 

 the forests of His Majesty's dominions this year too as in 

 former years, and to convey male and female elephants to 

 Jaffnapatam by land ; which permission was also granted. 

 He then added that the previous year His Excellency Wouter 

 Hendriksz,f Extraordinary Councillor of India, while on his 

 way as Commissioner to Cochin, had arrived within the 

 jurisdiction of this Government in the month of December 

 with his ship, the Henhuis Assen Borg,% on the completion of 

 his duties at Cochin he would, in accordance with the orders of 

 the Government of India., come and take over the Government 

 at Colombo. Further, Their High Mightinesses in Olanda had 

 appointed His Excellency the Governador to be Raad 

 Ordinary of the Great Council of India, but shortly after, in 

 consequence of his own earnest request, Their Excellencies at 

 Batavia had permitted him to administer the Government 

 here during his stay, after which he could surrender the same 

 with all honour and return to Batavia. The arrival of the 

 successor who had been nominated might be delayed a iew 

 months, but steps would be taken to inform the Maha Wasala 

 immediately it occurred. 



His Majesty was pleased to express his satisfaction at this, 

 and promised to send some of his chiefs to make inquiries 

 no sooner the information was received by him. Next the 

 Ambassador begged to be allowed to step outside the Maligawa 

 and to bring in the presents which had been entrusted to his 

 custody by His Excellency, to be submitted in the name of the 



* The next two pages of the manuscript are missing. 



f Wouter Hendriksz did not, however, succeed Versluys as Governor 

 of Ceylon. The latter was recalled in August, 1732, and the Comman- 

 deur of Jaffnapatam, Gualterus Woutersz, with the Political Council 

 of Ceylon, was appointed to administer the Government until the 

 arrival of Jacob Christiaan Pielaat as Commissioner. — R. G. A. 



% 't Huys Assenburg. — R. G. A. 



