No. 37.— 1888.] 



CAPTURE OF COLOMBO. 



367 



Another bonnette was made at the angle of the covered way 

 leading from the ravelin of the Delft Gate to the Powder 

 Mill, in which two eighteen-pounders were placed so as to 

 fire on the lake by the esplanade. A place d'armes was 

 constructed here, and the covered way was heightened. 

 All these works as well as the others were pallisaded. 

 The side facing the Governor's house which commanded 

 the roadstead was armed with small fieldpieces, one or two- 

 pounders : a wide trench was made in front of it. 



A sod battery was constructed to defend the landing-stage 

 at the wharf. Three or four pieces of small calibre were 

 mounted on it. 



Large quantities of clieveaux de frise, fascines, gabions, 

 pickets, and poles were made. 



The fire engines were put in order, the wells in the 

 fort repaired, and private ones cleaned out. In addition to 

 these a large supply of water was stored in the garden of the 

 Governor's House. 



The European and Malay companies each furnished seven 

 men daily for these works. They were given as extra pay 

 six sous, two rations of arrack, and a small loaf of bread. 

 They were under the surveillance and command of two of 

 their own officers. 



A large number of cattle were collected. Store-houses 

 were built for carvates, cocoanuts, arrack, oil for lights^ 

 wood, &c. Private houses were hired to serve as stores 

 and for the offices of the Company, the premises being 

 used, or the intention being to use them, for depositing 

 merchandise. 



The order forbidding storekeepers from selling any pro- 

 visions whatsoever was renewed. 



Private persons who wished to take refuge in the Fort were 

 obliged to provide themselves with provisions for at least 

 six months. Others conveyed their goods there to save 

 them from the pillage which they had reason to fear at the 

 time of the approach of the English. 



In accordance with the decision of a Council of the different 



