[46]. No more sums on interest are to be received in deposit on behalf of the Company, in compliance with the instructions referred to.
[47]. What is stated here with regard to the money drafts must be observed.
[48]. Golden Pagodas.—I find a notice, bearing date November 18, 1695, giving warning against the introduction of Pagodas into this country. It does not seem to have had much effect, as there seems to be a regular conspiracy and monopoly among the chetties and other rogues. This ought to be stopped, and I have therefore ordered that none but the Negapatam and Palliacatte Pagodas will be current at 24 fannums or Rds. 2, while it will be strictly prohibited to give in payment or exchange any other Pagodas, whether at the boutiques or anywhere else, directly or indirectly, on penalty of the punishment laid down in the statutes. Your Honours must see that this rule is observed, and care must be taken that no payment is made to the Company’s servants in coin on which they would have to lose.
[49]. The applications from outstations.—The rules laid down in the annexed Memoir must be observed.
[50]. With regard to the Company’s sloops and other vessels, directions are given here as to how they are employed, which directions must be still observed. Further information or instructions may be obtained from Colombo.
[51]. The Fortifications.—I think it would be preferable to leave the fortifications of the Castle of Jaffnapatam as they are, instead of raising any points or curtains. But improvements may be made, such as the alteration of the embrazures, which are at present on the outside surrounded by coral stone and chunam, and are not effective, as I noticed that at the firing of the salute on my arrival, wherever the canons were fired the coral stone had been loosened and in some places even thrown down. The sentry boxes also on the outer points of the flank and face had been damaged. These embrazures would be very dangerous for the sentry in case of an attack, as they would not stand much firing. I think also that the stone flooring for the artillery ought to be raised a little, or, in an emergency, boards could be placed underneath the canon, which would also prevent the stones being crushed by the wheels. I noticed further that each canon stands on a separate platform, which is on a level with the floor of the curtain, so that if the carriage should break when the canon are fired, the latter would be thrown down, and it would be with great difficulty only that they could be replaced on their platform. It would be much safer if the spaces between these platforms were filled up. The ramparts are all right, but the curtain slopes too much; this was done most likely with a view of permitting the shooting with muskets at even a closer range than half-way across the moat. This deficiency might be rectified by raising the earthen wall about half a foot. These are the chief deficiencies I noticed, which could be easily rectified. With regard to the embrazures, I do not know at present whether it would be safer to follow the plan of the Commandeur or that of the Constable-Major Toorse. For the present I have ordered the removal of the stones and their replacement by grass sods, which can be fixed on the earthen covering of the ramparts. Some of the soldiers well experienced in this work are employed in doing this, and I think that it will be far more satisfactory than the former plan, which was only for show. The sentry boxes had better be built inside, and the present passage to them from the earthen wall closed up, and they must be built so that they would not be damaged by the firing of the canon. The Dessave has been instructed to see that the different platforms for the artillery are made on one continuous floor, which can be easily done, as the spaces between them are but very small and the materials are at hand.
I wish the deficiencies outside the fort could be remedied as well as those within it. The principal defect is that the moat serves as yet very little as a safeguard, and it seems as if there is no hope of its being possible to dig it sufficiently deep, considering that experiments have been made with large numbers of labourers and yet the work has advanced but little. When His Excellency the Honourable the Commissioner van Mydregt was in Jaffnapatam in 1690, he had this work continued for four or five weeks by a large number of people, but he had to give it up, and left no instructions as far as is known. The chief difficulty is the very hard and large rocks enclosed in the coral stone, which cannot be broken by any instrument and have to be blasted. This could be successfully done in the upper part, but lower down beneath the water level the gunpowder cannot be made to take fire. As this is such an important work, I think orders should be obtained from Batavia to carry on this work during the dry season when the water is lowest; because at that time also the people are not engaged in the cultivation of fields, so that a large number of labourers could be obtained. The blasting of the rocks was not undertaken at first for fear of damage to the fortifications, but as the moat has been dug at a distance of 10 roods from the wall, it may be 6 or 7 roods wide and a space would yet remain of 3 or 4 roods. This, in my opinion, would be the only effectual way of completing the work, provision being made against the rushing in of the water, while a sufficient number of tools, such as shovels, spades, &c., must be kept at hand for the breaking of the coral stones. It would be well for the maintenance of the proper depth to cover both the outer and inner walls with coral stone, as otherwise this work would be perfectly useless.
With regard to the high grounds northward and southward of the town, this is not very considerable, and thus not a source of much danger. I admit, however, that it would be better if they were somewhat lower, but the surface is so large that I fear it would involve a great deal of labour and expenditure. In case this were necessary, it would be just as important that the whole row of buildings right opposite the fort in the town should be broken down. I do not see the great necessity for either, while moreover, the soil consists of sand and stone, which is not easily dug. With regard to the horse stables and the carpenters’ yard just outside the gate of the Castle, enclosed by a wall, the river, and the moat of the Castle, which is deepest in that place (although I did not see much water in it), I think it would have been better if they had been placed elsewhere; but yet I do not think they are very dangerous to the fort, especially as that corner can be protected from the points Hollandia and Gelria; while, moreover, the roof of the stable and the walls towards the fort could be broken down on the approach of an enemy; for, surely no one could come near without being observed. As these buildings have been only newly erected, they will have to be used, in compliance with the orders from Batavia.
Thus far as to my advice with regard to this fort; but I do not mean to oppose the proposals of the Commandeur. I will only state here that I found the moat of unequal breadth, and in some places only half as wide as it ought to be, of which no mention is made here. In some places also it is not sufficiently deep to turn the water by banks or keep it four or five feet high by water-mills. Even if this were so, I do not think the water could be retained on account of the sandy and stony soil, especially as there are several low levels near by. Supposing even that it were possible, the first thing an enemy would do would be to direct a few shots of the canon towards the sluices, and thus make them useless. I would therefore recommend that, if possible, the moat be deepened so far during the south-west monsoon that it would be on a level with the river, by which four or six feet of water would always stand in it. With regard to the sowing of thorns, I fear that during the dry season they would be quite parched and easily take fire. This proposal shows how little the work at the moat has really advanced, in fact, when I saw it it was dry and overgrown with grass. So long as the fort is not surrounded by a moat, I cannot see the necessity for a drawbridge, but the Honourable the Government of India will dispose of this matter. Meantime I have had many improvements made, which I hope will gain the approval of Their Excellencies.
[52]. The fortress Hammenhiel is very well situated for the protection of the harbour and the river of Kaits. The sand bank and the wall damaged by the storm have been repaired. The height of the reservoir is undoubtedly a mistake, which must be altered. The gate and the part of the rampart are still covered with the old and decayed beams, and it would be well if the project of Mr. Blom be completed. This is a very necessary work, which must be hurried on as much as circumstances permit, and it is recommended to Your Honours’ attention, because the old roof threatens to break down.