No. 55—1904.] RAJA SINK A II. AND THE DUTCH. 207 
To the above letter and another which Raja Si^ha seems 
to have written on May 11, the Dutch Governor replied, 
on July 23 saying that he had already answered that the 
Hollanders had no greater desire for the Matara territories 
than the advantage of the King necessitated, as it was their 
intention to observe sacredly the contract of Westerwolt. 
He also added that he had on several occasions heard that 
the King had dealings with the Portuguese prejudicial to 
the Dutch ; that he could not believe this to be true, but 
would be glad to have His Majesty's assurance to that 
effect.^^^ 
On September 6 Mr. Van Kittenstein received a letter, 
dated August 25, from the King, to which he replied on 
September 17 that he understood that His Majesty (who 
had left Bintenna for Badulla) had summoned the disava 
Rampot from the Matara territories, in order to learn from 
himself the reasons for the difference that had arisen 
between him and Maatzuyker, not doubting that His 
Majesty would after a just inquiry into the matter decide 
that Rampot was in fault.^*^ He also informed the King 
that the war between the Dutch and the Portuguese in 
Europe had already begun during the past year, and that 
as soon as the ships with reliefs arrived from Batavia he 
would give His Majesty fuller particulars of the plans of 
the HoUanders.^^^ 
On December 28 Van Kittenstein wrote from Galle to Raja 
Sinha, thanking him for the assistance that His Majesty had 
(as appeared by his letter of August 29) rendered through his 
disava to the Dutch during the stay of the ship De Haan 
at the island of Kalpitiya, as also for the release of the four 
persons sent by the commander of that vessel with dispatches 
to Negombo, and detained by the disava of the Seven Korales* 
From the letters of the commissary Pieter Kieft the 
Governor also learnt that His Majesty intended to come to the 
low country, and to send Kieft in advance to confer with 
His Excellency on a matter of great importance, and that 
meanwhile the King would continue to send the Company 
F 66-04 
