101 



taken in the rout) collected by our people was set on fire, and 

 the smoke obscured the sky and formed a thick cloud. The loss 

 inflicted on the Turks, besides these, if assessed, would amount 

 to millions. This has unmistakeably been a great calamity to the 

 Turks. The Grand Vizier fled, his army being routed, leaving 

 behind the robes with which he was decked while on his horse. 

 I have become entitled to all his wealth, the extent of which 

 I have learnt by enquiring of the master of his camp, who was 

 taken while fleeing in disguise. Among other treasures that 

 have corns ;, r to our hands is the sacred banner of the prophet 

 Mohammed,* and which has been sent to the Tope of Rome. 

 Besides these, there are in our possession other spoils, numerous 

 scimitars, swords, daggers, scabbards set with emeralds and 

 torquoise, and other treasures which I had never before seen. 

 Having taken the caparisoned horse of the Grand Vizier of 

 Turkey, we used our utmost endeavours to take him also, but he 

 escaped. The second in command of the Grand Vizier, and 

 several Generals, who go by the name of Pachas, have fallen. 

 Their best troops, the Janissaries, who were left in the 

 trenches, were all destroyed. The Turkish troops who fell, in- 

 cluding ifhe Janissaries and excluding the Tartars, amount to 

 about 300,000. Numerous scimitars, mounted with gold, of the 

 conquered foe, have also fallen into our hands. The bravest of 

 the enemy's troops retreated fighting, but unfortunately for us 

 they could not have been totally destroyed, owing to the setting 

 in of night. There were 100,000 tents left behind, and it is said 

 there are many more uncounted. The number of these tents suf- 

 ficiently indicates the strength of the enemy. Our army and the 

 inhabitants of this city have been counting the dead since two 

 days, but if they continue to do so for eight days more, it is very 



* Mohammed is called in the Sinhalese translation, the prophet of the Yon 

 religion, probably because the only Mohammedans then known to the Sinhalese 

 were the Yonas or Moormen of Ceylon, 



