44 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII 
Their return, however, was still to be delayed. One of the king's 
great ships with a valuable cargo, including elephants, was lost on a 
voyage to Sinnapattanam, only seven or eight of the crew escaping in 
a boat ; moreover, four ships riding at anchor in the harbour were 
destroyed by a cyclone ; and to crown all, the sub-king himself died 
shortly after. The king accordingly hesitated about sending the priests 
to Lanka in such a year of disaster, and consulted Wilbagedara, who 
sent the following reply : — " I, too, am in great distress at the misfor- 
tunes that have occurred ; but the uncertainty of the future, grief, and 
death are no new thing in our world of sorrow : therefore should 
you hasten to fructify your desire to spread the knowledge of the one 
thing that is certain, the preaching of the Lord." Further, he went on 
to add how in the days of old there were no Hollanders in the Island 
of Lanka, but his majesty King Sri Raja Sinha had sent his royal 
message and summoned them from across the sea to guard his coasts, 
for which purpose be had put them in charge of his forts, and they had 
since served him with all loyalty ; and every year embassies come from 
diverse countries to the court of our king to solicit his friendship 
with costly presents. 
Apparently the king was greatly impressed. He sent two courtiers to 
make further inquiries from Wilbagedara, who informed them that the 
States of Sinnapattanam, Madura, Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Kilakkari, 
and Mysore send yearly tribute and obtain permission to participate 
in the pearl fishery. 
Shortly after Wilbagedara had a dream. He dreamt that he was 
leading a herd of elephants, one pure white in colour, and the rest 
speckled, to a freshly reaped field, where the Padikara Mohattala and 
his own younger brother the Muhandiram came to meet him, remov- 
ing the turbans they had round their heads. As they approached he 
noticed that leeches were climbing up his legs, and as he stooped to 
brush them off he awoke. 
This dream was the harbinger of happy news. The following morn- 
ing two ship captains named Nicholas Bath and Martino appeared, and 
with many declarations of their being the humble and loyal servants 
of their majesties of Siam and Lanka, placed their new ship the 
" Cecilia" at the service of the Sinhalese ambassador. This offer 
was joyfully accepted ; and on Sunday the third day of the waning 
moon of the month Duruta, the priests and the Siamese mission of 
seventy-four souls, including the five ambassadors, their interpreters, 
clerk [somii/an), Arachchies, (mu7i), " appus " (tJienei)^ soldiers, two 
7nassageurs (atapaya mirikana veddu)^ musicians, and attendant boys 
proceeded on board. After an uneventful voyage they reached Bata- 
via ; where they were hospitably received by the Dutch general, who 
presented them with various articles, including three guns. Here 
they transhipped into a larger vessel, the " Oscabel," in which they 
reached Trincomalee on Monday, the thirteenth day of the increasing 
moon of the month Wesak, in the Saka year 1675. 
Mr. F. C. Roles said he should like to ask Mr. Pieris whether 
the sentence'''^ " a considerable portion has been omitted to 
* Supra^ p. 29. 
