No. 35. — 1887.] CAPTURE OF trincomalee. 



123 



THE CAPTURE OF TRINCOMALEE, 

 A. D. 1639. 



Extracts from the Journal of the Commander Antonio Caen. 



Translated from the Dutch by F. H. de Vos, Esq. 

 {Bead, November 17, 1881.) 



jPRIL 18, 1639. — About evening arrived in the Bay of 

 Coutijar, leaving to starboard the Portuguese Fort of 

 1 Trincomalee, lying in a sandy bay between two head- 

 lands jutting out into the sea. Inside the bay on the same 

 side were some islets or rocks bounding the passage through 

 which we had to sail, about S. to W. and N. to E. Anchorage 

 for sailing right into the bay good and deep, being 10 to 11 

 fathoms quite close to land. After anchoring, Vice-Com- 

 mander Coster went ashore at Coutijar with some blacks. In 

 the meantime the Governor of Samantura came on board, 

 having left Batticaloa on the 12th. Being interrogated by 

 the Commander on the position and nature of this place 

 and the state of the Fort of Trincomalee, he gave little 

 information, apologised for the tardy arrival of his people 

 and said that he had never in his life been here, 

 nor as yet spoken with the Prince of this place. He therefore 

 desired to go to him and promised, when he got further 

 information, to report it early next morning. So he returned 

 to land and nothing further took place that evening. 



April 19. — In the forenoon Vice-Commander Willem 

 Jacobsz Coster and the Fiscal Gerard Herbers having rowed 

 ashore to ascertain whether the Prince of this place (who 

 was unwell, having suffered with sore-eyes for the last five 

 years) would come on board to deliberate with the Comman- 

 der touching the attack on the Fort of Trincomalee, and what 

 steps should be taken to conquer it, the aforesaid Prince 

 came on board the Admiral's yacht " Armuyden" with one 

 83—88 c 



