*4 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
or infringe the terms of the treaty ; and the Dutch soon found 
that in their sanguine hopes of satiating their avarice, they had 
over-reached themselves, and rather diminished than increased 
the little benefit they had formerly derived from the interior of 
the island. Nor was even their tranquillity at all secured by 
this treaty ; the Candians frequently attempted by force of arms 
to procure better terms, although the Dutch constantly suc- 
ceeded in repulsing them ; not, however, without much blood- 
shed on both sides. About twenty years ago the Dutch again 
penetrated into the king’s country, but were attacked by the 
natives with so much spirit, that the present General de Meuron, 
then a colonel in the Dutch service, narrowly escaped being 
cut off with a large detachment near Sittivacca, and by acci- 
dentally taking a different road from that which the Candians 
expected he would, he got safe to Columbo. 
Both parties at last became wearied out with these constant, 
ineffectual struggles ; hnd hostilities, as well as all other inter- 
course, were discontinued as if by mutual consent. The Dutch 
were chiefly anxious to prevent any connection being formed 
between the natives and foreigners; and the king of Candy 
was resolved to prevent any intercourse between his subjects 
and a nation, which he found ready on every occasion to de- 
prive him of his rights in order to gratify their own avarice. 
A few articles of no great value, such as betel leaf, areka and 
cocoa-nuts, were occasionally smuggled by the natives down to 
the Dutch provinces; but these practices, if discovered, were 
severely punished by the king. 
