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



Honourable Company, in the fervent hope that they might find 

 acceptance with His Majesty as a token of the unswerving 

 friendship entertained by the said Honourable Company 

 towards His Gracious Majesty. Permission being given we 

 made obeisance as before, and the Ambassador, the chiefs, 

 and I stepped backwards till we emerged from the Hall of 

 Audience. We halted on reaching the maluwa of the Maiigawa, 

 and as we were despatching the presents and animals within 

 the Disavas of Sabaragamuwa and the Seven Korales, who 

 had entered the Maiigawa, returned and inquired from the 

 Ambassador if he desired to have a second audience with 

 His Majesty a few days later, or if he preferred to obtain 

 permission to return to Colombo on this occasion, the reason 

 for the inquiry being that the Ambassador, in whom His 

 Majesty had so much confidence, had been already compelled 

 to remain a few months within his dominions in consequence 

 of delays at the Maha Wasala, whereas the previous year he 

 had been granted two audiences within a brief period. The 

 Ambassador replied that he had been ordered by His 

 Excellency in every matter to abide by His Majesty's com- 

 mands, and he was accordingly prepared to comply with 

 any command that might be given. However, as His Majesty 

 had deigned to make inquiry regarding his own wishes in 

 the matter, he would consider it a singular blessing if he 

 were favoured with a second audience. The two chiefs 

 re-entered the Maiigawa and in a short time returned with 

 the announcement that His Majesty would be pleased to grant 

 a second audience with the same ceremony as this first. 

 Thereupon after expressing thanks the Ambassador and I 

 and the chiefs returned within the Maiigawa, and after 

 making our obeisance as before stood upon the carpet ; when 

 the Ambassador was again given permission to sit down, 

 which he did. He was then asked if at the previous interview 

 he had omitted any portion of the message which had been 

 entrusted to him by His Excellency, to which he replied that « 

 he had not failed to communicate everything, humbly 

 thanking His Majesty for the inquiry. He was next asked 

 what office had been conferred on him by His Excellency. He 

 replied that he had accompanied His Excellency on his way 



