No. 35.— 1887.] CAPTURE OF TRINCOMALEE- 



135 



For the protection of the batteries 120 musketeers and Men. 

 gunners, who are especially to be on them during 

 our bombardment and to fire at the bastion 

 St. Jago ... ... ... 120 



Altogether for this undertaking, soldiers and 



sailors ... ... ... 514 



The rest of the sailors are ordered to be in charge of the 

 ships, to carry ammunition to and fro in the batteries, and to 

 be stationed on the cruising yachts. 



(Signed) Antonio Caen, &c. 



The Council was now busy discussing whether the storm 

 should be commenced only on the breach made in the 

 bastion St. Jago which seemed to command the other, 

 or a breach also made in the curtain close to the bastion 

 St. Cruz, and thereby separate these bastions from the 

 others, and, as far as possible, prevent access from all 

 sides to the place where we intended to commence storming 

 of persons who might come to defend the bastion St. Jago. 



There now came to the Admiral's yacht " Armuyden " with 

 the Head Merchant Jacob Compostel two Portuguese Captains 

 sent by Major Scholtes. These were admitted to our works 

 with a white flag of truce, and declared that they were sent 

 by Captain Moer from the Fort to our Captain-General to 

 excuse the ignorance and inexperience of some of their 

 soldiers who had shot at our Captain several times from the 

 Fort when he was coming with a flag of peace, as they 

 were ignorant of the custom of war, or did not understand it. 

 The Hon. Commander should be pleased to take it in good 

 part as the offenders were in custody for it, and would be 

 punished. The Commander replied that that was not suffi- 

 cient, but desired that they should be handed over to him, that 

 so he might punish them himself, in as much as the affront 

 was to him and not to the enemy. They were asked whether 

 they desired anything further, and whether they did not come 

 to negotiate with him concerning the surrender of the Fort 

 which they were not able any longer to defend. They 

 answered that they were Captains de Hera, and rather than 



