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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XL 



wherewith I could save myself, and reach the land, which 

 was only ten miles distant. Still we continued to do our 

 best to put down the fire, and God in his great mercy helped 

 us to escape from the danger. When we arrived at Negumbo 

 we found that the garrison had taken a new engagement for 

 three years, and, as we were not required, we had to return. 



Anno 1651. 



In the year 1651, on the 12th of February, a ship came 

 from Batavia, and brought orders that we should declare 

 Orlog or war against the Portuguese, and require them to take 

 their soldiers out of the island, or we should drive them out 

 by force. 



When that happened it was very inconvenient for them ; 

 still they collected their men in great haste and constructed 

 a camp against us. One of their Captains with three hundred 

 niggers came over to us, and offered to give the fortress of 

 Calutre into our hands without the loss of a single man. 

 Although this was agreeable news, our Commander did not 

 like to risk it, as it would weaken the number of men under 

 his command ; but he replied that within a short time more 

 ships with soldiers would come from Batavia, and that the 

 matter could stand over till then. 



On the 25th of April news came that three ships had been 

 seen close to the land twelve miles from Piinte de Galle. On the 

 next day the ships arrived, but there were no soldiers on board,, 

 and there were so few hands that only with great difficulty 

 had they managed to take the ships across the sea. Moreover, 

 they brought the bad news that England and Holland were 

 bitter enemies, and had begun a bloody war at sea. What 

 was to be done ? The enemy was in front of us ; the posses- 

 sion of the fortress would have suited us very well if we 

 could only obtain it, but we had neither soldiers enough nor 

 any to expect. But God inspired one of us with the idea 

 that there was full hope to capture Calutre if only a 

 ruse were used before it became known that the ships wero 

 empty. Therefore, upon each of the ships four banners 



