Throwback to the Dutch period
Title : Travel Diary of Isaac Augustin Rumpf The Dutch Governor of Ceylon (1716 - 1723)
Translated and edited with an introduction and indices: K. D. Paranavitana
Publisher: The Department of National Archives, Sri Lanka under the Netherlands – Sri Lanka Mutual Cultural Heritage Programme
The splendid book entitled “Travel Diary of Isaac Augustin Rumf The Dutch Governor of Ceylon (1716-1723)” translated from the medieval Dutch language edited with an introduction and indices by Prof. K. D. Paranavitana published by the Department of National Archives Sri Lanka under the Netherlands – Sri Lanka Mutual Cultural Heritage Programme was launched at the auditorium of the National Archives on 05th July amidst of an august gathering with Ambassador for Netherlands in Sri Lanka. Her Excellency Joanne Doornewaard as the Guest of Honour and under the patronage of Hon. Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyasawam gracing this momentous occasion.”
The translator Prof. K. D. Paranavitana should receive an encomium as there are several National Archives of Sri Lanka publications accredited to him. They are viz. Firstly, the translation of the Memoir of the Governor Daniel Overbeek to Julius Stein van Gollenesse 1743 published in 2009, Secondly, the translation of the Memoir Commandeur Librecht Hooreman to Jacob de Jong 1748 published in the same year, and also edited the Dutch and English Dictionary written by Simon Kat in 2014.
Prof. K. D. Paranavitana also deserves a special word of appreciation as this translation of the Dutch Governor’s diary emerges as the second publication after 100 years. The earlier such publication was done by Sophia Anthonisz Colombo in 1914 entitled : “Gerrit de Heere’s Diary of occurrences during the four of Governor of Ceylon from Colombo to Jaffna July 9th to September 3rd in 1697”.
The special novel feature that is found in this tome is that it contains the original Dutch language version published from pages 147 to 351 and 20 facsimile colour plates on the Dutch forts he visited and the projects initiated. The translator has taken all pains to meticulously prepare the indices on personal names, place names, seacrafts and add a useful bibliography to this invaluable book.
The diary provides an in situ comprehensive graphic description on the Governor’s tenure of Office.
At page 39 of this book this reviewer could trace the name of Don Phillip Dahanaike the earliest ascendant of Galle a well-known family Dhananayake’s, grandfather Wijeyananda Dahanayake former Prime Minister of Ceylon. Dr. Wijeyananda Dahanayake requested this reviewer to go with two of his letters. The first letter was addressed to the then Surveyor General the other to the Director of National Archives to trace more particulars on his grandfather which was then proved futile.
Thus it has been revealed thanks to Prof. Paranavitane that Don Philip Dhananijke Appo was a schoolmaster of the School of Akuressa where his father Dhanaike Maddoemarale (Maddumarala) was school master for 32 years his brother has served for 8 years after the departure of his brother Don Phillip has served for 12 years.
The span of school services is 52 years by the family of Dhanayake’s at Akuressa is indeed a landmark by a Sinhalese family. Curiously the photograph of the oriental scholar Diyonisus Sepala Pandita Dahanayake, father of famed ‘W’, was traced by the family only from the library of Wijeyananda Viharaya of Weliwatte Dangedera, Galle as its main dayaka of the Dayakasabhawa.
This travelogue eminently edited by Prof. K. D. Paranavitane would fill a void that hitherto existed on the era of Governor Isaac Augustin Rumpf (1716-172). The Director of the National Archives Dr. Saroja Wettasinghe has shouldered the onerous task to release of this publications in the national interest. Dr. Wettasinghe enthusiasm have infused new lease of life by the release of several National Archives publications. No doubt Prof. Paranavitane’s contribution would be a sine qua non to facilitate the researches in the National Archives in the future. - Hemantha Situge
