36 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIIl. 
continue our journey by the Hollander's ship. Three Siamese nobles 
were also ordered to accompany us as far as the seaport of Siam. 
Accordingly we started in great state, and as we proceeded down 
the river the priests who lived in the viharas on the banks, with the 
chief men of the villages and the people themselves crowded round in 
boats so that the river could not be seen, bringing with them presents 
for the priests who were starting for Lanka. We arrived in this 
manner at the temple called Wat Thon Lak Dhan, where the chief 
people provided presents and robes to be offered by us to the priests 
accompanying us so as to acquire merit ; while at the same time we 
were entertained at a feast. 
When we drew near Bangkok we were similarly received and 
treated ; the same occurred at Amsterdam, where we arrived next ; at 
last on the afternoon of Friday, the fourteenth day of the solar month 
Yrischika, being the eighth day of the increasing half of the lunar 
month, we reached the harbour of Siam. Immediately the four of 
us who were to travel by the Hollander's ship proceeded on board 
with our attendants, and the two ships anchored side by side, while 
the luggage meant for the Siamese ship was taken there ; where 
too Wilbagedara Muhandiram proceeded with one servant and an 
attendant soldier. On Wednesday the fourth day of the solar month 
Dhanu, at the twenty-third hour of the morning, the two ships hoisted 
sail, and we steered out of the harbour, the Siamese ship leading. 
On Thursday this latter disappeared from our sight, and though we 
were greatly disturbed in mind about her, we sailed on till on the 
afternoon of Monday, the twenty-third day of the solar month, we 
reached the harbour of Malacca and cast anchor. 
Six days later, on Saturday morning, three officers came from the 
fort and took us on land in a sloop, where we were conducted with 
much ceremony to our halting-place. Later we were taken inside the 
fort, where the Governor and other officers exerted themselves to allay 
our anxiety and assured us that the ship would arrive in safety. 
They also fitted out a sloop to go and make inquiries, and sent 
despatches regarding the matter to Batavia in a ship. But though 
we questioned the captains of all the vessels that came from foreign 
parts, we could obtain no information whatever; accordingly we resolved 
to wait till we did get some definite news. We waited on till the next 
year, which was the Saka year 1674, till on the thirteenth day of the 
solar month Yrisabha, the captain of a newly-arrived ship came to 
our halting-place and informed us that the Siamese ship had lost her 
masts and could not proceed on her voyage, and had consequently 
been towed back by several boats to Siam itself. 
As we heard that a sloop trading with Siam was lying idle in the 
harbour, we consulted the Governor and started her captain off with a 
letter. We waited till Saturday the tenth day of the solar month 
Dhanu, when the Governor sent us by an officer from the fort a letter 
which Wilbagedara Muhandiram Eala had forwarded. The purport 
of this letter was that His Majesty the King of Siam had graciously 
bidden them when taken before him not to be disheartened at their 
mischance ; the priests destined for Lanka, the presents, and the three 
Siamese ambassadors would start again in the month of Wak from the 
district of Mirigiya, and reach Laigka this year itself ; the ambassadors 
who were waiting at Malacca should accordingly be directed to start 
home ; in obedience to which command this letter was written. 
