6. Ponneryn, the third Province from which elephants should be obtained, and which, like Illepoecarwe, Polweraincattoe, and Mantotte, was ruled formerly by an Adigar or Lieutenant-Dessave, was doing fairly well; because the Company received yearly on an average no less than 25 alias, besides the tithes of the harvest, until in 1690 the mode of government was changed, and the revenue of Ponneryn was granted by public decree to the young Don Gaspar by the Lord Commissioner van Mydregt, while those of the other two Provinces were granted to the old Don Gaspar, on condition that the young Don Gaspar would capture and deliver to the Company all elephants which could be obtained in the said Provinces, while the inhabitants of Ponneryn would be obliged to obey the Master of the Hunt as far as their services should be required by the Company and as they had been accustomed to render. This new arrangement did not prove a success; because, during seven years, he only delivered 44 elephants, although in the annexed Memoir it is stated that he delivered 74. Of these 44 animals, 7 were tuskers and 37 alias, viz.:-- Elephants. For 1690 4 1691-92 6 1692-93 5 1693-94 16 1694-95 13 ==== Total 44 During the last two years he did not deliver a single animal, so that the Company lost on account of this Master of the Hunt, 131 elephants. He only appropriated the tithes of the harvest, and did not care in the least about the hunt, so that the Company is even prevented from obtaining what it would have received by the old method; and, I must say, I do not understand how these privileges have been granted so long where they are so clearly against the interest of the Company, besides being the source of unlawful usurpation practised over the inhabitants, which is directly against the said deeds of gift. The elephant hunters have repeatedly applied to be relieved of their authority and to be allowed to serve again under the Company. For these reasons, as Your Honour is aware, I have considered it necessary for the service of the Company to provisionally appoint the sergeant Albert Hendriksz, who, through his long residence in these Provinces, has gained a great deal of experience, Adigar over Ponneryn; which was done at the request of the elephant hunters. He will continue the capture of elephants with the hunters without regard to the Master of the Hunt, and Your Honour must give him all the assistance required, because the hunt has been greatly neglected. Your Honour may allow both the Don Gaspars to draw the tithes of the harvest until our authorities at Batavia will have disposed of this matter.