THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. Si 
yet their own misconduct had sown so many seeds of jealousy 
between them and the Candians, that they were often compelled 
to have recourse to arms. The last great war which they carried 
on with the natives, was about the middle of last century. In 
1764, they penetrated into the heart of the king’s dominions, 
and made themselves masters of Candy. Their success, how- 
ever, ended as on former occasions. After having experienced 
great hardships from the climate, and the activity of the na- 
tives, who continually intercepted their convoys and commu- 
nications with the sea-coast, they were at last obliged to evacuate 
the capital. Their disasters did not, however, end here. In 
their retreat, four hundred of their best soldiers were made 
prisoners and put to death at Cuddavilli and Sittivacca, only 
two days march from their own chief settlement at Columbo. 
Notwithstanding this disaster, however, they had many ways 
left of harassing the king of Candy ; and in particular by their 
power to deprive him of salt at pleasure, they reduced him at 
last to comply with all their demands. In 17b6 he was com- 
pelled to accede to a treaty which greatly curtailed his domi- 
nions, and left him little better than a prisoner at large in those 
that remained to him. All those parts of the sea-coast, which 
had not formerly belonged to the Dutch, were now conceded 
to them, with the addition of several other tracts which they 
reckoned advantageous for their purposes. They insisted that 
the king should have 110 intercourse with any other power 
whatever ; and that lie should deliver up all foreigners or sub- 
