The city of Bintenne

Joris van Spilbergen’s 1601-1604 expedition reached Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon to Europeans in May 1602. At the end of the month, the fleet anchored at the city of Batticaloa, which at the time they named Matecalo. Van Spilbergen went to the shore, where he was first received by the local representative of the king. From 3 to 5 June, Van Spilbergen met with the king of Batticaloa. He was suspicious of the king, despite his promises to deliver pepper and cinnamon to him, as he insistent to unload the ships’ cargo on the beach. Van Spilbergen left some men on the shore on the 6th of June, and took a number of men of the king hostage on the ships. After some negotiations the king withdrew his forced from the beach and suggested that Van Spilbergen would send a representative to the ‘Great King’ of Kandy, which Van Spilbergen agreed to. After the embassy returned, Van Spilbergen himself consented to personally travel to the capital of Kandy. En route he stayed at the city of Bintenne (Mahiyanganaya) on the shores of the Trincomalee river (Mahaweli).

This image depicts Van Spilbergen’s description of Bintenne. The numbers represent the following: 1-3. The people of the city at the river of Trincomalee, where they make galleys and others ships for the king of Kandy. 4. A large pagoda in the city that is 130 steps in circumference. 5. A procession of people, with the “abbot” on an elephant covered in golden sheets. 6. The monks of the city. 7. People dancing and playing music. 8. A monastery.