292 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVIII. 
above, matters had changed in Ceylon. Wijaya Bahu 
VI. was reigning at Kotte, and his uncle Alakeswara, a 
disappointed man, brooded over his lost authority in his 
native city of Rayi gama. He saw in the arrival of the Chinese 
fleet a means to regain his lost power, and secretly opened 
up negotiations with Ching-Ho. Stratagem succeeded 
where valour would have been vain against the entire 
forces of a hostile country. By a "device,"* apparently 
suggested by Alakeswara, Wijaya Bahu was completely 
lulled into security. The Chinese entered Kotte as am- 
bassadors bearing gifts and tribute to the Sinhalese Monarch 
from the Chinese Emperor.f When the ruse was discovered 
it was too late to offer any effective resistance. Wijaya Bahu 
fighting desperately was taken captive with a number of 
princes and nobles, while several of his brothers and chief- 
tains fell in the encounter {circa 1410-1411). The Sinhalese 
Monarch, with the other captives, was deported to China, 
and Alakeswara was acknowledged King by the Chinese as 
tributary to the " Brother of the Sun."J Having seen the 
Chinese junks depart with the King he set himself to 
work to bring the nation to his allegiance before having 
himself formally installed as Emperor. § Alakeswara was 
now master of the Kingdom, wielding a greater power than 
he ever possessed. However, he had scarce ruled for two 
years when an event occurred which threatened to put an 
end to his supremacy. Wijaya Bahu VI. released by the 
Chinese returned to Ceylon (circa 1411-1412). On his arrival 
at the port of Colombo he was greeted with professions of 
delight by Alakeswara, who went forth to welcome his 
* SaddharmaratnaTiara^ Museum MS., 0. 12, p. g^®©. 
t Valentyn, loc, cit,; Rdjdvaliya (G-unasekara's translation), p. 66. 
X Lee's translation of Eibeiro, p. 24. 
§ Sinhalese Monarchs always assumed the Imperial title, as overlords of 
the different Kingdoms into which the Island was divided. Even when 
their dominions only consisted of the Kingdom of Kandy, they tenaciously 
clung to the title, and had their claim to the dignity, though not to the 
territory, allowed by both Portuguese and Dutch. 
