loading..

Bastion and surrounding wall of the fort at Matara
Bastion and surrounding wall of the fort at Matara
Bastion of the fort at Matara with clocktower
Bastion of the fort at Matara with clocktower
Building in Matara
Buildings in Matara
Central courtyard at Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Ceylon and the coast of Madura
Church in Matara
City gate at Matara
City gate at Matara
Door of Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Entrance to a house at Matara
Entrance to the church at Matara
Entrance to the rear gallery of the church at Matara
Estate with coconot trees on the western flank of the fort at Mature
Gallery of a house at Matara
Gallery of the church at Matara
Gate of Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Gate of the Van Eck redoubt at Mature
Gate to Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Gate to the Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Gate to the Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Gate to the Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Gate to the Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
House at Matara
House at Matara
House in Matara
Lawcourt at Matara
Main entrance of the fort at Matara
Map and elevation of the Van Eck redoubt at Mature
Map of Ceylon
Map of Ceylon
Map of Ceylon
Map of Ceylon
Map of Ceylon and 22 forts
Map of Ceylon and the coast of Madure
Map of Ceylon and the coast of Madure
Map of Dolosdas Corle
Map of Fort Matara
Map of fortifications on Ceylon
Map of Mature
Map of Mature
Map of Mature and the Baygam
Map of Mature and the Baygam
Map of southern India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Map of Sri Lanka
Map of Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Map of the fort at Mature
Map of the Mature River
Map of the Mature River
Map of the southern part of India
Map of the southern point of Ceylon and the Adams bridge
Map showing the expedition to Candy, Ceylon
Panorama of Baygam from the 'Peperberg' mountain
Perimeter wall of the Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Side view of the church at Matara
Surrounding wall of the fort at Matara
The church at Matara
View and entrance of the church at Matara
View of the fort at Matara
View of the fort on Matara
View of the fort on Matara
Walls of Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Walls of the Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Wallwalk at Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara
Wallwalk at Starfort, Van Eck redoubt at Matara

Matara was a major bonded warehouse in southern Ceylon. The principal commodities were elephants and cinnamon. Elephants were captured by chasing them into a trap, from which they could be removed one by one and tied up. Subsequently the elephants would be baptised in accordance with Ceylonese custom. A wild elephant would be put in with tame ones. The elephants were sold to Indian rajahs who deployed them in times of war as living tanks. The VOC exercised territorial authority in Matara and could therefore levy taxes. A tightening of the tax regulations in 1760 sparked an uprising against the VOC by the local population. The rebels were aided by the king of Kandy, with whom the VOC had for some time been in conflict. The Company won the war, but suffered a great loss of prestige. For this reason a bigger fort was subsequently built in Matara.