18 
Hhtory of Ceylon 
to explore every coast of the known world in search of opu- 
lence- The inexhaustible riches of the East speedily attracted 
the adventurous merchants of that nation. In every quarter, 
however, they found the Portuguese already established ; and 
the jealousy with which these earlier settlers observed the ap- 
proach of any rival, soon convinced them that it was only by 
force they could ever hope to carry their commercial plans 
into effect. The Dutch and Portuguese were actuated by a 
different spirit, and proceeded in a very different manner in 
extending their foreign possessions. The former displayed none 
of that romantic bravery, that rapid attack, and dazzling suc- 
cess, whicli so much distinguished the first conquests of the 
Portuguese in India. But they were possessed of that persever- 
ing resolution in the pursuit of an object, which is the soul of 
commercial enterprise ; and hence we find them, though often 
repulsed, gradually wresting one settlement after another from 
the Portuguese ; till at the commencement of the seventeenth 
century, they had already made themselves masters of the most 
important islands and settlements, which stretch to the east- 
ward of the Straits of Molucca. 
The situation and rich productions of Ceylon presented a 
tempting object to the Hollanders: the extent and strength of 
the island, however, deterred them for some time from hazard- 
ing an enterprize of such magnitude. In the year 1602, the 
Dutch admiral Spilbergen, at length ventured to approach the 
coasts of Ceylon ; and the natives, from their hatred of the 
Portuguese, gave him a very favourable reception. During 
the constant wars in which they had been engaged, the King 
of Candy, Don John, whose struggles against the Portuguese 
we have already described, had acquired such a superiority 
