No. 37. — 1888.] capture of Colombo. 



371 



and on False Bay Battery (de la fausse Baie). Their 

 furthest range was nearly to the mouth of the river at Great 

 Mutwal {grand Matuaal) : they were afterwards pointed on 

 the Fishmarket and on Courteboom. 



Mortar practice was made from the Utrecht Bastion in 

 firing stones as far as the Galle Gate. In short, preparations 

 were made for the most vigorous resistance. 



The English came from Jaffna by land very leisurely. 

 The Governor was not ignorant either of the strength or 

 the description of troops of which their army was composed. 

 He had been forewarned of everything that had been 

 planned at Madras regarding the Island of Ceylon. He 

 received information from Tranquebar and even from Madras 

 itself. 



The English army was composed of Sepoys, some of whom 

 were raised in haste at Madras from the coulis of the 

 country. A report spread that it consisted of 10,000 men, 

 and that the enemy had raised besides on the coast of 

 Madura a corps of bandits who would scatter about the 

 environs of Colombo and pillage. 



What troops were at Kalpitiya and Chilaw, were then 

 recalled, but the officers at those two places had deserted 

 beforehand, leaving their charge to the Company's clerks 

 (des Boekaiders). 



At this juncture Captain Lamotte, who commanded the 

 Malay battalion, was sent out to meet the enemy with a few 

 companies of his corps ; but he had orders to retire as the 

 enemy advanced. He finally took up a position defending 

 the passage of the Kaimelle river. Information having been 

 received that armed Kandyans were marching in great force 

 to unite with the enemy, and that they were even supplying 

 them with provisions, he was ordered to retire upon 

 Negombo, and from thence to return to Colombo. 



All the bridges on the route were destroyed, and all the 

 roads cut to prevent the passage of the enemy's artillery. 

 Nevertheless the English established themselves at Negombo? 



