from Europe. The parts Assigned to them were the-best fitted
for'cultivation in the island; and >they-immediately*Vet about
turning them to the best account. By means of 'the'se'pi'udent'
measures, and persevering industry,, the colony was? sooffhrought
into a flourishing state,dind was able 'to depend upon its own
internal resaurdbsi ' •
While the Dutch"-were thus ’ strengthening themselves* they
kept up the most friendly intercourse'with the native^-; and
this conduct, besides enabling1 tf em to pursue their plans of
improvement without interruption, was also 'of very considerable
benefit to their commerce. - The^Ceylonese looked u]*fnl them
without jealousy, and were eager by their good offices to shew
their gratitude to the guardians o f their c o is ts ^ T h e Dutch
trafficked with them' for the natural p r o d u c t ^ i s l a n d
to great^ advantage: and had they persisted in the" sa*ne'>;Wise
■ and moderate policy, it is probable that Ceylon would in
process of time have become as profitable to them from their
intercourse with the natives, as if it had been wholly possessed
by Dutch settlers.
The ruling passion o f the Dutch however, their avarice, soon
began to oven-reach itself ; and by rapaciously seizing upon
every opportunity of gain, they quickly disgusted mid alienated
the natives. They began not only to push their posts farther
aiad farther into'the interior, and to seize upon every spot which
appeared well adapted to cultivation ; they also increased their
demands on the King for the protection they afforded him ; and
he soon found that all the cinnamon which grew in his dominions
was* insufficient to gratify the guardiqm o f his coasts.
Enraged a t ' their repeated' extortions, he at last fell suddenly
upon their settlements, where he committed the greatest devas-
4
ta t ions. This 'breach'betweenhthe! Candians andthe Dutch was
followed-by^a Ihlig course of hostilities, /during which much blood
was shed, .and mo lasting"advantage gained«by either party. The
Dutch, "however, were the greatest1 losers- by the 'contest; for
though they*» frequently »routed the'natives;^ over-ran their country,
and destroyed their villages; yet-the hardships which they
encountered .in forcing their way through a?' G^uktry covered
with woodland .every1'where full of-defiles/ destroyed-so ffi'any
o f thdir troops, that^all their suc^esses^were ,t©a dearly purchase
d ; and in the Olid; they werc^a’lways obliged to abandon:'their
conquests with" great loss. The incucsidns o f the nativeki on the
Other bakd, in to their cultivated ^possessions ;on the, coasts, although
mojhentary, and inh general easily fepul|s§]; frequently
destroyed» the . labour ..of« yearsVS/tThese'ifcprisideratiQns induced
Several of the/Dutch governors, do' attempt * the jh^&tbration of
tranquill|tf, rather b y -feopcrliatihg dhe nativ e, than5.by ineffec-
tu jd “strt<^,es|lWiith';tltemi - Eor ;this purpose’..they sent ambasr
sadors to them, with a Variety!'©f rich -presents,, and with unstractions’.
to' gfatifyijthei Candiaaad Ming by alkthose'IMtentidhS .and to»
kens S i reflect wlieMfaS'db great an i effect on uncivilized mindsi
Their*:betters do him Were wrapped, up in tsilks .embroider'ed,
with , gold and 1 silv^^and their ‘«ambassador carried them« all
the way oil» his headl! th e/ highest Midken-df respect known in
|fi#«equhtryi I n thqsfeleti:ers,i the King|was dignified,»ufifboail
tl^ose ffiigMisAindiiiagi tttkm which ‘krd/;u8uMf|r coffered updh 'ah -
eastern,dmanaaeh ; while.’ the Dutch .su'bseriKe49:tBdmsdves his
hunjb|ei;mndi<l*yal subjects^» repeating.«,their's|^i4fer' lassdrance|
th a t .theiri only » motive! for thudding • fortresseshwast the 'Security
of -his -i Mkjesty’iS dominions. .»These coneiliatbrjy measures-never
failed to have considerables effect; butufew'.olf the Dutch ’ go