No. 55.— 1904.] RAJA SINHA TI. AND THE DUTCH. 227 
brought great dishonour upon our imperial family ; and both these 
remaining in the said siege, it happened that the false Portuguese drove 
a large number of poor people out of the city, among whom there 
came out also some false traitors, by whom all my works were set oi- 
fire ; therefore let Your Honour command a good watch to be kept. 
I would also remind Your Honour, through the goodwill, love, and 
affection that I bear to you, that this wicked Portuguese nation are 
traitors and false, and also that in my camp are many kinds of 
nationalities, wherefore let Your Honour have a care of your person, 
and God the Lord will protect Your Honour from all danger and 
difficulties. If this should be so (as my imperial person wishes), a 
great and extreme joy will be born for me. Your Honour must know 
that in this Empire of Ceilao are many kinds of people, both of 
foreigners and of natives, who served many kings and caused many 
disagreements, and brought severe desolations upon the country. 
There are also still at the present time many of these traitors ; if it 
should happen that on the part of these any of them should betake 
himself to Your Honour with an external show of love, do not trust him. 
For these false rogues will, for a little gain (through the false heart that 
is in them), say such things as will grow to great misfortune and ruin. 
The letters that are written to you from this court are also composed 
in a foreign language ; therefore, should Your Honour find any incon- 
sistency therein, either in one or another, which might trouble Your 
Honour, or cause any speculation, would Your Honour at once inform 
me thereof, in order to remove all doubt and suspicion. For the peace 
that we formerly made and swore to shall endure so long as the sun 
and moon shall shine, as Your Honour also says in your letter that it 
shall be in force as long as the world endures. I had intended to 
answer Your Honour's letter of the 8th of J anuary ,2^^ but understanding 
that the captain of the guard had been dispatched by Your Honour to this 
imperial court I delayed somewhat in doing so. In former times, when 
my imperial person was somewhat younger in years, I encamped with 
my imperial army in Malvane ; and, since it is a long time ago, I 
inspected that place on Wednesday last, finding the same, where the 
dissave of the Four Corlas had prepared the court, not to be good, 
when I immediately commanded that it should be prepared not there 
bux in the fortress of Reygamwatte.^^^ In view of this, and because 
the said dissave had not properly fulfilled his duty and had committed 
many follies and acts of cowardice, I have deposed him, and put 
another in his place ; and any things that may happen concerning my 
imperial service, will Your Honour kindly confer with him regarding 
them. As regards the preparation of the court I have given commands 
to the dissaves, and dispatched several persons to prepare it as speedily 
as possible, and I shall then at once proceed thither. 
Subscribed : — In the camp and court at Guiramibula,^^^ 14th February, 
1656. Raja Singa Rajou, Most Potent Emperor of Ceylon. 
