f . 
No. 55.— 1904.] RAJA SINHA II. AND THE DUTCH. 193 
Portuguese,^^^ and asking him to say distinctly if he wished 
for peace or for war. On May 31 Maatzuyker wrote a further 
letter^^^ to the king as follows : — 
Joan Maatzuyker, Governor on behalf of the Hon. Company in 
Ceylon, wishes Your Majesty all possible blessings and welfare. 
In place of getting an answer from His Majesty to my former 
missives we daily receive tidings that he permits our people, who are 
forbidden to commit acts of enmity, to be smitten to death near 
Nigumbo, and shown all enmity. 
Moreover His Majesty had had ambassadors in Colombo to seek help 
from the Portuguese,i^^ from which is to be concluded that His Majesty, 
notwithstanding our fair offer to give satisfaction, is minded to come to 
a regular war with the Hon. Company, wherefore'we, according to the 
law of all nations, have resolved on our side also to oppose force to force. 
To which end we are causing to be got ready four ships and some 
chaloups in order to occupy Batecalo, Cotjaar, and Trikoenmale, and 
to again take possession of the places formerly wrested from the 
Portuguese, &c. 
Whilst occupied over this I have received His Majesty's letter^^^ of 
the 21st of this month, in which he makes known his desire to maintain 
the contract made with Westerwolt, to which we are likewise inclined. 
His Majesty is to a certain extent right in saying that we have 
wrongly taken possession of his lands. 
No order was given therefor, but the Governor Jan Thyszoon 
considered this the best way of getting at the cinnamon ; but on the 
subject of the expulsion of Your Majesty's dessaves he shall be further 
spoken to and reprehended therefor. 
The Councillors at Batavia are prepared to hand over to Your 
Majesty the aforesaid lands, having given this order with a view to 
reduce the expenses. 
Will His Majesty be pleased to dispatch his dessaves ? They shall be 
received in accordance with their rank, always provided that His 
Majesty shall issue orders that all the cinnamon, beside the other 
fruits of his territories, be delivered to us, according to the contract, 
towards payment of the expenses incurred by us. 
The fulfilment of this can take place within a few years if His 
Majesty will be pleased to take the trouble needful therefor. 
This much as to the first point of the complaint. 
Regarding Nigumbo, which His Majesty says was occupied by us 
against his wish. His Majesty expressly desired this in his missive of i6th 
February of last year,^^^ in which it is stated that on account of the 
truce with the Portuguese our garrison should remain there and be 
paid for and maintained by Your Majesty, it being inadvisable to 
demolish the fortress, lest the Portuguese should immediately come 
and once more obtain a lodgment there. 
