34 
History of Ceylon 
truce with them ; and tlie Dutch had reason to suppose tlrnt 
he also began to look upon them with an eye of distrust and 
suspicion. These two rival powers therefore determined to 
make a truce without tiie intervention of Raja Singa. Ac- 
cordingly it was agreed in the year 1645 that the Portu- 
guese should retain Columbo and the other places actually in 
their possession ; while tlie Dutch should retain Nigumbo and 
their other conquests. The rich country in the neighbour- 
hood of Columbo and Nigumbo was shared equally between 
the contracting parties ; the cinnamon was to be peeled in 
common by the Cinglese under the dominion of both, it was 
afterwards to be shared equally as well as the expences attend- 
ing it. This agreement was to be put immediately in force, 
altliough its final confirmation was to be received from Europe. 
Raja Singa w^as greatly exasperated at this treaty. lie looked 
upon the Dutch as having deserted the common cause, and 
leagued with his enemies for a share of the plunder of his 
dominions. He accordingly instigated the Cinglese and his owui 
subjects to rob and destroy their plantations, which at length 
obliged the Dutch to come to a rupture with him. They 
seized on all his tame elephants, and took possession of a 
part of his territories. The King dreading an alliance be- 
tvreen them and the Portuguese for his total destruction, at 
last came to an accommodation wfith the Dutch, when all pri- 
soners Avere released, and his territories restored to him. 
In 1652 w’ar again broke out between the Portuguese and 
Dutch, which proved at first so unfavourable for the latter, 
that they lost several forts, and were on the point of being 
totally driven out of their possessions at Nigumbo, when Raja 
Singa came to their assistance with a large force, and cna- 
