The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Recovery of Ceylon, during the Government of the Viceroy the Count de Linnares.

1. AFter the Natives had left but a small part of the Island, Ceylon in our Pos∣session, the Kings of Matale, Uva and Candea with 20000 Men came to Besiege Columbo, the chief Place then in our hands. The Be∣sieged were reduced to that Extremity, it is said they eat the Dead, and some Mothers their own Children. Then came in five Ships sent by the Viceroy, rather to take up the Cinnamon was to be sent to Portugal, than relieve the Place. But the Besiegers thinking it was Relief raised the Siege. D. Philip de Mascarennas went over from Cochin to Ceylon with a Pink loaden with Provisions and well manned at his own expence, which was a great help to that Place.

2. The Viceroy gave the Command of General of Ceylon to D. George de Almeyda, who set out on the 19th of February 1631, in the great Galley taken by Nunno Alvarez Botello, when he destroyed the Fleet of A∣chem. This Vessel tho' large being not sound enough to endure any Storm might rise, a Flyboat that went loaded with Provisions, was ordered to keep close always with D. George, which soon left him, and was the cause that many perished.

3. The Galley having coasted as far as Cape Comori, and then striking over to Cey∣lon, a Storm arose, and it appeared impossi∣ble to save her. D. George perceiving she must perish, launched the Boat and got into it with 29 Persons, whereof 4 were Religious. This was done so late and with such preci∣pitation, that there was not in the Boat Provision for one meal. The Night was spent in lading out the Water the Sea and Rain brought into the Boat. In the Morn∣ing discovering a Sail at a distance, tho' D. George assured them in 3 or 4 Days he would bring them to Maldivia, they made towards it, and coming near found it was their own Galley then sinking.

4. With much trouble on the 4th Day they reached one of the Maldivia Islands about evening. This was at a time that the Natives keep a Fast of 30 Days, during which time they eat nothing between Sun and Sun, and do nothing but gormandise all the Night. Here D. George stayed 30 days, spending what he had got to maintain his Men, and got some Shipping to go over to the Coast of India. The Men made a sort of Habitation, but D. George lay in his Boat to be always the readier against the Moors, who kept them always upon their Guard. There was a vast number of Mosquitoes or Gnats, that made the Blood run where they stung; next followed a Sickness which none were free from, and was cured by Bleeding; two died of it, one a Franciscan. The King of the Islands writ to D. George, condoling

his Misfortunes, and sending him a parcel of Rice.

5. Being provided with all Necessaries they sailed to Cochim, where D. George lay sick a long time. When he was somewhat recovered, there came to that Port 2 Pinks sent by the Viceroy to the Relief of Ceylon with 500 Cafres, 800 Canaraes, some Portu∣gueses, 40000 Xerasins, which are worth a∣bout a piece of Eight each, Provisions and Ammunition. D. George emba•…•…qued with them, having raised some more Men; sailed from Cochim on the 17th of October, and ar∣rived at Columbo the 21th. He marched not presently towards the Enemy (though cen∣sured upon that account) by reason the Season being wet, that Country, which is for the most part plain, is boggy and overflowed. Besides the Trees are full of Leeches, which drop down upon Men as they pass, and bleed them to Death.

6. The Season being somewhat more fa∣vourable, D. George marched on the 5th Day of Ianuary 1632, and passed the River Calane towards the North. Six Ships were ordered to go up the River with several Pieces of Cannon, but only two could per∣form it. The first day they could march but one League, and quartered at Calane. Next Morning having heard Mass, they marched with great difficulty, by reason of the Bogs and Waters, through which they waded up to the Breast. Besides the Ene∣mies Musketiers endeavoured to hinder our Passage about the Fort called Tranqueyra∣grande,

but many of them were slain, our General giving 3 or 4 Pistols for every Head that was brought him. This Pass being clear∣ed they advanced to another, where the E∣nemy appeared again. Our General went himself to view it, and returning disposed his Men to attack those Works, in which were almost 6000 Men. It was done with such fury, that many of the Enemy being killed, the rest fled, firing all they left be∣hind. Our Army advanced to Maluana, where they found only 3 old Men, who said the Prince of Candea hearing the ap∣proach of our Men, had the day before aban∣doned that Place. All the Houses were burnt by D. George his Order.

7. The Fame of these Actions made many come in and submit, whom our General treated with kindness and rewarded; but Fear and Malice being equally prevalent in them, they hid themselves, thinking to get away to their own People again, which D. George understanding caused them to be apprehended, gave some as Slaves to the Captains, and delivering one to the Cafres, they in sight of his Wife and Children im∣mediately cut him in pieces, which they di∣vided among themselves to eat.

7. The Army marched to Cardevola, where were 2 Forts, whence showers of Bullets flew. The General having viewed them, drew out 3 Battalions to give the assault. These advanced, and the whole Army ambi∣tious of sharing the Honour, followed of their own accord, and D. George had much

difficulty to stop them. On a sudden the 3 Bodies crying St. Iames applied the scaling Ladders, mounted, and planted our Colours upon the Walls of both Forts. We lost two Officers and four private Men, and had some few wounded. As our General entred one of these Forts, a Chingala came and told him that of Tanqueyra Grande was aban∣doned by the Enemy; he sent thither a Body of Men, and found it was true, and that they had left in that Fort good Brass and Iron Cannon, many Muskets and Ammuni∣tion. Those of Cardevola which were pre∣sently demolished were no worse provided, one piece of Cannon was found with the Royal Arms of Portugal upon it.

8. In several Parts of the River Bodies were afterwards found with Cymeters, which showed many in confusion were drowned for haste. The Enemy had strowed Crows∣feet about the Fort to gall our Men, which did them the greatest harm as they fled. Our Army pursued the Enemy, but could not come to any Action, till they met at the Foor of the Mountains of Candea, where they were defeated, and we remained Ma∣sters of the Forts of Manicravate, Sofragan, Maluana, and Caliture. About Maturé, where D. Theodosius lived as a King, was the like Success.

9. The same at Chilao, a Sea-Port, which our General assaulted by Sea and Land, and took there a great Booty, part whereof were 130 Vessels. The King of Candea sent Am∣bassadors to sue for Peace, the General was

against it, but being importuned by the re∣ligious, in consideration of the Misery the Country was reduced to by those Troubles, he granted the Ambassadors should go to Goa, to treat with the Viceroy. In fine, D. George not only recovered our lost Reputa∣tion, but encreased it.

10. D. George found the Inhabitants of Columbo, that ought to have worshipped him for delivering them from a deplorable Condition, more dangerous Enemies than the Natives. He endeavoured to put in Execu∣tion the King's Orders, to prevent the Frauds committed by the Officers of the Revenue; they arming made several Shots at him, by one of which he lost a Finger. This Mutiny being looked into, those concerned were put out of their Places and the Island; and it was declared in the Council of State, that D. George had acted better then any before him; and it was requisite for the King's Service, he should be continued in that Post. Peter de Silva, who was Viceroy after the Count de Linnares, removed him, only because it is a Custom for the new Viceroy to undo what his Predecessor has done. But no sooner did D. George leave the Command of the Island Ceylon, than all that he had gained was lost. Returning to Goa poor and full of Merit; he died in a low Condition, rather (as was be∣lieved) through Grief than Age.