No. 54.-1903.] KING KIRTI SRI'S EMBASSY TO SIAM. 37 
We accordingly went on board on the thirteenth day of the solar month, 
being Friday, and on Saturday we steered out of the harbour, and on the 
evening of the fifteenth day of the solar month Makara, being Monday, 
we landed at the Castle of Colombo. The Governor received us with 
great consideration and arranged quarters for us near the church at 
Borella, where we remained for twenty-eight days. In the meantime 
he sent two Mudaliyars with a letter to Siriwardhanapura ; these 
went and delivered their message before the great nobles there, who 
conveyed the same to the knowledge of his gracious majesty, when 
the Mudaliyars received great rewards. Moreover he gave orders for 
the Padikara Mohottala, Dedigama Muhandiram E,ala, and Pussella 
Muhandiram Rala to proceed to Colombo and accompany the newly- 
landed nobles back. They accordingly came to Colombo and delivered 
- their message to the Grovernor, who received them with every mark of 
honour and accompanied them from the castle. Six days later, on 
the eighth day of the solar month Kumbha, which is the fourteenth 
day of the waning moon of the month Navam, we arrived at the 
capital and were presented before our gracious and ever-victorious 
king. We were received with great kindness, and were anxiously 
questioned as to whether the priests were actually coming. 
On the tenth day of the solar month Vrischchika messengers arrived 
with the news that the ship conveying the Siamese priests had cast 
anchor at the harbour of Trincomalee on Monday the fifth day of the 
increasing moon of the month Wesak, in the Saka year 1675,* which is 
called Srimukha. No sooner was this glorious message received than 
our gracious king, the mighty ruler of Lanka, gave orders that 
palanquins fitted with cushions and mattresses should be despatched, 
as well as a supply of robes of fine cloth, with sweetmeats and rice 
cakes to help them on the way. He also sent elephants to head the 
procession and a richly caparisoned tusker with a golden litter 
for conveying the king's message, with a body of trumpeters, drum- 
mers, and other musicians. The following were entrusted with this 
work, viz., Ehelapola, Maha Adikarama ; Angammana, Dissave of 
Matale ; Hulangamuwa, Dissave of Uda Palata ; Ellepola Kahande 
Mohottala, the Kodituwakku Lekama ; Ellepola Mohottala, the 
Vedikkara Lekama ; Kahande Mohottala, the Kuruwe Lekama ; 
Wiyalla Mohottala, Muhandiram, who was in charge of the gahadd- 
gama of Madulu ; and Harasgama Muhandiram E,ala, of the Vedikkara 
Lekama. These accordingly started for the harbour and accompanied 
thence the priests, the three Siamese ambassadors, the king's letter, 
and the presents with every mark of honour. The letter was placed 
on the golden litter which was carried by the tusked elephant with 
jewelled trappings ; the holy images and books were carried in state 
accompanied by flags and umbrellas ; Upali Maha Terunnanse, 
with the seventeen other Theros and seven Samaneros, travelled in 
palanquins richly fitted with mats and pillows ; while the Siamese ambas- 
sadors followed in andorus. So they proceeded, halting at Olagamuwa, 
Gantale, Alutwewa, Minihiriya, Gonawela, and Nalanda. On reaching 
Godapola nuwara five noblemen proceeded to meet them, viz., Dum- 
bara Dissave of Matale ; Angammana Mohottala, the Maha Lekama ; 
Moladanda, Rate Rala of Yatinuwara, Ellepola Kahandawe Mohottala, 
the Padikara Lekama, and Wilbagedara Kuda Muhandiram Rala of 
the same Lekama. 
=^ A.D. 1753. 
