10 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
guished the first conquests of the Portuguese in India. But 
they were possessed of that persevering resolution in the pur- 
suit 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 eastward 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 enterprise of such magnitude. In the year 1603, the 
Dutch Admiral Spilberg 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 had acquired such a superiority over the other 
princes, that at the arrival of the Dutch, lie was looked 
upon as Emperor of Ceylon. To this prince, Spilberg was 
introduced, and soon conciliated his favour, by declaring him- 
self and his countrymen to be the inveterate foes of the Por- 
tuguese. He added, that it was their determinate resolution, 
to expel these cruel invaders from the possessions which they 
had so unjustifiably seized ; and concluded with an offer of his 
countrymen’s assistance to the Ceylonese, in expelling the 
Portuguese from their island. The king of Candy, as might 
