No. 37. — 1888.] capture of Colombo. 



385 



troops thinking, and with reason, that they were betrayed, 

 were ripe for revolt. Several guns went off in the Rotterdam 

 quarter, where two Wurtemberg companies were stationed. 

 Firing then commenced at several other points of the Fort, 

 and notably from the barracks of the Water-gate, where 

 the Malays and Sinhalese were stationed. It was entirely 

 directed towards the house of Governor van Angelbeck. 

 At the same time Captain Legrevisse, who had received orders 

 to repair with his company to the mainguard, received a 

 counter order, to the effect that the Fortress was given over to 

 the English. This was done at 10 o'clock in the morning. 



Thus was Colombo, the principal fortress of the Island of 

 Ceylon, surrendered to the English. All the troops were so 

 indignant with the Governor, that if the English Colonel had 

 not sent him a detachment as bodyguard, he would certainly 

 have fallen a victim to the fire which destroyed his house 

 and menaced the interior of the Fort. 



Subsequently the Governor himself was so horrified at 

 his own treason, that he blew out his brains. 



The terms of the capitulation were, that the garrison 

 should march out with honours of war, arms and baggage, with 

 drums beating, matches lighted, and colours flying ; that it 

 should keep its artillery, which would follow it, and that the 

 officers should be allowed to carry their side-arms. 



Accordingly the whole garrison assembled at la place 

 d* Amsterdam, and leaving the Fort by the Delft gate, laid down 

 their arms on the esplanade. All the gates of the Fort 

 remained open, and the officers were at liberty to re-enter 

 it. The Anglo-European soldiers were quartered in the 

 barracks, the Sepoys in the streets, and the officers in tents 

 and in the verandahs of houses. 



The next day, the 17th, Colonel Driberg conducted all the 

 officers of the Dutch garrison to Colonel Stuart, who was 

 lodging at the Governor's house. He informed them that 

 they would leave for Madras on the 20th, and that two vessels 

 would be ready for this purpose, one for the National troops 

 and the other for the Wurtemberg regiment. 



