196 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON), [VOL. XVIII. 
His Majesty says that it is not right to seek peace from kings with 
threats of war, but His Majesty is not so high, nor we on the other 
hand so low, that we should not be allowed to speak the truth. 
His Majesty did not speak so, Anno 1640, when he received us as 
defenders of his kingdom. 
They are no threats, but warnings. Nor do we seek for peace as if 
powerless, but invite the same, or, on a refusal, a just war, being 
assured in mind that we have no blame therefor. 
To restore Nigumbo, that we are willing and moreover ordered to 
do, but in such relations as we now stand towards His Majesty, this 
shall never happen to all eternity, or His Majesty must drive us out 
therefrom by force. 
At present not a laryn has yet been paid for the expenses of 
Nigumbo's conquest, wherefore the restitution is demanded without 
justice, and in a manner unbecoming such a king. 
Of our prisoners no mention is made in His Majesty's letter, and 
without the restoration of these we can come to no peace. 
Our intention is to maintain peace and the treaty, according to the 
contract of Westerwold, provided that His Majesty first and before 
all else release our people, and issue orders that the cinnamon, &c., 
be delivered to us ; on fulfilment of which to our satisfaction we are 
quite ready to resign the government of the districts to His Majesty. 
The translation of Their Honours' letter goes enclosed in this for 
His Majesty's information. 
To the above letter Raja Sinha did not deign to send a 
reply, breaking off all further epistolary intercourse with the 
Dutch, and retiring with his army to Kandy. After waiting 
for nearly three months Maatzuyker addressed another 
letter^^^ to the King, dated September 11, as follows: — 
According to letters from our prisoners in Candi^^^ it would seem 
that we have neglected to reply to His Majesty's letters, which is to be 
wondered at, as we, since our letter of 21st June, have received no letter 
from His Majesty, but have only understood from some deserters 
that His Majesty has broken up his camp at CaymeF^^andhas returned 
to Candi. 
God be our witness., that as yet we seek to maintain the contract of 
Wester wolt, provided that His Majesty do so as well. 
It appears that peace is desired on both sides. 
His Majesty desires yerforce the surrender of Nigumbo, and we had 
rather the assurance of the payment of our war expenses. 
In order that we may both come to something of an agreement it 
will be best that we occupy Nigumbo for six to eight months more, 
since it may easily come to an outburst of open war between us and the 
Portuguese. 
