'20 History of Ceylon 
ciple of ills mind seemed to be a mortal abhorrence of the 
Portuguese. He undertook many works both for the defence 
and improvement of his dominions ; he built a number of forts, 
made several new roads, and provided resting places, a most 
necessary convenience in those hot climates. He left one son 
and two daughters. 
After the death of Don John, the inferior princes, who had 
been kept in awe by his authority, began to assert their inde- 
pendence ; and the Prince of Ouve, the most powerful among 
them, openly aspired to the supreme authority. The Empress, 
Donna Catharina, a woman of a vigorous mind, by her ad- 
dress and activity soon succeeded in reducing these disturbances. 
She refused an alliance with the Portuguese, which they had 
offered her, in the hope of profiting by the internal dissensions 
among the Candians. She afterwards married Coniveirat, a 
kinsman of the late King, and sent a deputation to the Dutch, 
to request their assistance against the Portuguese. The Dutch 
were not slow in complying. In the year 1612, Marcellus de 
Bouchover arrived at Candy as ambassador from the States of 
Plolland, and was received with every mark of distinction which 
could be devised: a chair of gold was prepared for him, and 
robes of white, which is the royal colour. He concluded a 
treaty with the King, consisting of thirty-three articles. In 
its preamble are enumerated a long string of titles which 
seem to have been devised by the Europeans to gratify the 
vanity of the Candian Monarch, and thus bend him to their 
purposes in more essential points: scarcely any European title 
of nobility is omitted among them. This treaty stipulates that a 
permanent peace shall be established between the Dutch and 
Candians. In case the Portuguese should attack the King, the 
