No. 55. — 1904.] RAJA SINHA II. AND THE DUTCH. 197 
Also, that His Majesty leave us for two to three years more in 
possession of these districts, in order that we may find payment in 
cinnamon for our expenses incurred, and thus also diminish to a great 
extent His Majesty's debt. 
We shall also be able to see meanwhile what and how much the 
neighbourhood of Nigumbo can produce. 
After which time His Majesty is assured in the name of our 
masters that we shall hand over to him all the districts without 
retaining any, except the fortress of Gale. 
If His Majesty accepts these conditions he is begged to reply there- 
anent, and with the answer to send some of our people, and especially 
to dispatch the clerk Nicolaus Loenius.^^^ 
This letter also failed to evoke any reply from Raja Siniha ; 
and after a lapse of four months Maatzuyker sent the King 
the following missive,!^* dated January 8, 1647 : — 
We have as yet received no answer from His Majesty to any of our 
letters, though the law of nations and kings requires that there should 
always be answers to letters on both sides. 
The conditions offered by us are much too favourable to be cast to 
the winds by His Majesty. 
Wherefore we suppose that our former letters have not reached His 
Majesty's hands, or that His Majesty must be deceived by tattlers our 
enemies. 
In order to get at the exact truth and know for certain how His 
Majesty is minded, it is thought well to dispatch the merchant 
Maarschalk^^^ as commissioner. 
If His Majesty be pleased to hear him, a passport will be expected 
for this purpose, under promise of allowing him to return unhindered, 
whether it be peace or war. 
More than six months elapsed, and at length, on July 27, 
a letter,^^^ dated July 12, was received from the King, to 
which Maatzuyker replied^^^ on August 11 in the following 
conciliatory strain : — 
His Majesty's letter of 12th July we received on the 27th of the 
same, and have learnt therefrom with sorrow of His Majesty's 
prolonged illness,i^^ hoping that the restored health of His Majesty 
may last long. 
The commissioner who was referred to in our last shall be dis- 
patched at an early date by way of Baticalo.^^^ 
I should myself come before His Majesty if the orders of my 
masters permitted this, as being still ready to follow religiously and 
sacredly the contract made with Westerwolt. 
