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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
Matura, with 300 soldiers, among whom were several captains and 
ensigns.^^ We also captured a fort in Mantea B-avane,^' with 100 
Portuguese and their captains, and another fortress in Sofragaen, 
with three companies, destroying also two other forts of the aforesaid 
enemy. At about this time I besieged the city of Columbo, keeping 
the gates closed for more than thirty days, when, finding myself unwell, 
I returned again to Candy, leaving my army under Mara Tana 
Wandaar, who fifteen days after my arrival there departed thence, thus 
giving the enemy an opening, and so hindered me in the war for a year 
and a half. Afterwards this captain went over to the rebels. Moreover 
with my army I attacked the territories of my enemies, fortifying 
myself in the Four Corlas m a place named G-anetena, doing much harm 
for six months to the aforesaid enemies, during which time there came 
from Goa to Columbo as Governor and General Diego de Melo de 
Castro [formerly Governor of S.Thomse^^] ,who sued for peace, which I 
granted him, because I knew that the country was being ruined by war, 
and because the aforesaid General, in the name of his king, gave me a 
promise and swore by his God, abandoning the forts of Trinquelemale 
and Batecalo, whereupon all prisoners were released.^^ Thirteen 
months after this peace had been concluded the Governor of Batecalo 
gave help to some rebels to murder a governor of my territories, 
harbouring the aforesaid rebels,^^ shortly afterwards plundering a 
champan [or boat] coming to me ; and beside this they are still con- 
tinually busy concocting treachery against my kingdom, wherefore, 
having seen their faithlessness for so long a time, with us as also with 
other Indian kings, I have resolved to expel these enemies, and shall 
become a brother-in-arms of the King of the Hollanders so long as 
sun and moon shall endure,^^ and the Yiceroy of Jacatara shall render 
me assistance, and the Governor of Paliacatta, in order to further the 
good of the Dutch nation, hoping that all shall fall out well according 
to my good purposes. 
I, the King, inform the Governor of Paliacatta that seven years ago 
this Empire devolved upon me, and from that time I sought to know 
who in Europe was the mightiest king to oppose the Portuguese, and 
not only heard that the King of the Hollanders was their scourge, but 
I also learnt of the good understanding that the aforesaid King 
maintains with other kings and his friends and allies, as well as of the 
trustworthiness of the Governor of Paliacatta. Wherefore I have 
resolved that, so long as sun and moon shall endure,^^ I shall become a 
brother-in-arms to the King of the Hollanders, and although my late 
predecessors in former times made treaties with the Yiceroy of J acatara 
and the Governor at Paliacat ta, it has so far been of no effect. It appears 
that it was God's pleasure that this should be dealt with in my time, 
and I trust (with God's help) that we shall bring these matters to a 
conclusion, I relying upon the Governor of Paliacatta that as soon as 
possible he will do this, he trusting in my royal word. If they wish 
