Sinhala / Sri Lankan Swords?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

THE SPEAR.. appears in Sri Lanka reputed to be Dutch in origin... It is worth noting that although the Portuguese were there from 1505 that The Dutch although they did not take over until much later were there as well. See the sketch below which illustrates the landing by Sebald de Weert on 28 Nov 1602 over on the East coast near Batticaloa. The sketch is very accurate down to the correct shoes hats clothes and other items. At the front of the delegation on the right is a leader of that group with a Dutch Partisan... called in the Singalese name of Patisthania .. Dr Watson there must be a clue there somewhere!

Please also note the peculiar blade on the sword held by the right hand man at front...

For interest the Dutch situation in Sri Lanka kicked off in 1602...spurred on by the VOC formation...

From http://www.wolvendaal.org/history/vo...ower-in-ceylon

Quote"history/The Dutch Period in Ceylon 1602–1796

The Establishment of Dutch Power in Ceylon.

At the dawn of the seventeenth century, the young Dutch Republic was emerging as one of the more – if not the most – enterprising and dynamic forces among the European nations. The Dutch were distinguishing themselves particularly as seafarers venturing into unknown seas and lands. In 1602 the V.O.C. or United East India Company was established. Within a few decades it controlled vast territories in South Africa, Ceylon, the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) and established a considerable number of settlements in India, Malaysia, Japan and China.

In that same year, on the 2nd of June, the Dutch Admiral Joris van Spilbergen arrived in Ceylon with three ships from the Dutch port of Veere after a 12 month voyage. Visiting Kandy, the seat of King Vimala Dharma Suriya, Spilbergen and the King developed cordial relations. The King’s admiration for his new-found friend was so deep that he begun to learn the Dutch language saying ‘Kandy is now Flanders’. They discussed future relations, focussing on possible Dutch military assistance to expel the Portuguese from the coastal areas as well as the trade in cinnamon and pepper. As a token of his friendship, the Dutch Admiral left in the King’s service two versatile and skilled musicians: Erasmus Matsberger and Hans Rempel.

Shortly after the successful visit of Van Spilbergen, a second Dutch fleet under command of Sebalt de Weert arrived on the island. De Weert was a very skilful commander who discovered the Falkland Islands during the attempt of Dutch Admirals Cordes and Mahu to find an alternative route to the East Indies through Cape Magelheas in 1598. After an initial agreement with the King of Kandy, he returned in 1603 to Batticaloa with a fleet of six ships to take part in a joint effort to oust the Portuguese from the island. During his stay he took four passing Portuguese ships but released the Portuguese crews who had surrendered to the Dutch on the promise of quarter. The King was very angered by this action and after further heated discussions, De Weert and 50 of his compatriots, who happened to a on shore, were unexpectedly killed by the King’s men. The Dutch Council of the Indies considered this assassination as a treacherous murder and held the King accountable."Unquote.


Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.