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



Adigar stated that they had been commanded to start the 

 Ambassador for Colombo on this day, and that the Nanayak- 

 kara Mohottala, with Kotagaloluwe, Imbulmaldeniye, and 

 Walgampaye Muhandirams were to accompany him. When 

 the journey was begun the Adigar and the rest of the courtiers 

 accompanied the Ambassador the usual distance, the Adigar 

 declaring that they had been commanded, to do so as a mark 

 of honour to the Ambassador. The latter begged them to 

 convey to His Majesty his humble thanks for the same ; and 

 after thanking the chiefs themselves for all the consider- 

 ation he had received at their hands during his stay within 

 His Majesty's dominions, he adva,nced with the four chiefs 

 who were to accompany him, reaching Dodanwala Dewale 

 at noon and Walgowwagoda at five o'clock. He then asked 

 the chiefs if they proposed to push on to Hanwella the 

 same day they reached Ruwanella, or if they intended to 

 spend a night at Sitawaka, as he desired to send information 

 of their plans to His Excellency, so that he might give timely 

 orders for preparations to be made jfor their reception with 

 due honours. After a short conversation among themselves 

 the Nanayakkara Mohottala replied that, unless they received 

 further instructions from the Maha Wasala, as at present 

 ordered they only proposed to accompany the Ambassador 

 across the Sitawaka-ganga. The custom of proceeding as far 

 as Hanwella had only arisen subsequent to the embassy of 

 Grigorius de Costa,* and His Majesty's sole intention was to 

 revert to the earlier practice, and the Ambassador was not to 

 conclude that there was any other motive : the circumstances 

 had been different at the visit of Gerart Palak.j* 



The Ambassador expressed his grateful thanks for all the 

 honours he had received at His Majesty's hands, and expressed 

 his readiness always to carry out His Majesty's commands ; 

 his only object in making the inquiry was that officials might 

 be despatched to receive the chiefs on their arriving within 

 the Company's territory, and that there might be nothing 

 lacking in the honours with which they were welcomed. 



* In July, 1707. 



t Gerrit Valk, Koopman ; date doubtful. — R. O. A. 



