At Ceylon there were quite a lot of problems with the Portuguese and men was afraid for a conspiracy. 2 January arrived off Colombo the merchant Louis Sanche de Castris with his ship Nossa Senhora De Bon Voyagie asking for aid. He was forced to cut down in a heavy storm his main and mizzen mast. However, except giving a pump and some rope aid was refused, while they didn’t trust him! He was suspected to bring a contract towards Goa in which was offered to hand over Ceylon in Portuguese possession. A fleet should come from Goa and realise this transfer. It was all a fake. De Castris had not been since 3 years in that part of India and stayed since 4 April 1728 coming back from Macao at Colombo until his departure 25 October. Conforming available information there was at that time just one ship lying at Goa, destined towards Mombasa. The Noorderkwartier was sent 27 May towards Ceylon ordered to load 4.500.000 lb areka nuts and at Nagapattinam as much as possible to purchased silver ropia’s from Bengal. The fluyt Vis was to load rope at Ceylon and at Tuticorin chanco’s. She transported 360 last rice towards Ceylon. Due to the storms it wasn’t allowed that ships departed after 25 August until May of the next year towards Bengal. The complaints dealing with the long lasting voyage of the Anna Maria from Galle towards Colombo were investigated. There were 200 European and 125 inland soldiers and 34 guns transported to Ceylon. The requested 50 sailors weren’t available, suggested to take them out of the Moorish sailors of the crews of the ships for Ceylon. Lacking of heavy guns caused the sending of smaller ones. Despite a surplus of pepper, Nagapattinam had to wait six months due just being 2 inland vessels available for the transport of 120.000 lb. The 's Graveland transported 456.000 lb pepper of Malambar towards Batavia. The personnel was ordered to let go the near Mannar stranded British 3-master George, despite her transporting guns and shots as ballast. The British merchants at Madras were quite angry when she was seized.
Source
J. van Goor. Generale Missiven van Gouverneurs-Generaal en Raden aan Heren XVII der Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie. Deel IX: 1727-1737. The Hague, 1988, p. 46-50.
Source
J. van Goor. Generale Missiven van Gouverneurs-Generaal en Raden aan Heren XVII der Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie. Deel IX: 1727-1737. The Hague, 1988, p. 46-50.
