No. 62.— 1909.] 



DUTCH EMBASSY. 



215 



were old and unfit for the King's use. As His Majesty was 

 anxious for some more, it would be good if they could be 

 obtained and despatched ; it was desirable that this should 

 be done without delay, as otherwise His Majesty would not 

 be satisfied. 



The Ambassador answered that as His Majesty's fondness 

 for horses, birds, and other rarities was well known. His 

 Excellency had exerted himself to obtain them both- from this 

 kingdom and by communicating with foreign lands, but to 

 his great regret he had. so far been unsuccessful. But he 

 would not fail to continue his efforts and would forward them 

 to the Maha Wasala as soon as they could be secured. The 

 conveyance of horses by ship from. Europe and Turkey was a 

 matter of considerable difficulty, and the animals too were 

 subjected to hardship by insufficiency of food, and it was 

 therefore considered impracticable to obtain them from there. 

 As Persia was closer it was possible that horses were obtained 

 from that country when it was at peace ; but for some years 

 past there had been continued unrest there and the roads were 

 unsafe, so that the traffic in horses and other merchandise 

 had been suspended. In consequence no horses had been 

 received for some time, but there was a rumour that matters 

 had settled down again ; if this were true it would be possible 

 to secure some to be forwarded to the Maha Wasala. He 

 could however assure them that His Excellency was always 

 prepared to do his utmost to carry out the wishes of His 

 Majesty ; and he begged them to submit the same when a 

 proper opportunity presented itself. This the chiefs promised 

 to do. 



The Maha Adigar thereupon stated that His Majesty had 

 commanded the two Adigar s and the rest of the chiefs 

 to escort him a further distance along the road than on the 

 previous year ; and as a special mark of honour the six 

 courtiers with Leupe Mohottala and Paranagama Muhandiram 

 would accompany him to the tdndyama, after which the two 

 last named were to return to the capital. 



On the morning of the 22nd [March] the Second Adigar, the 

 Nanayakkara Mohottala, and the Walgampaye Muhandiram 

 arrived at the tdndyama ; and after the usual inquiries the 



