18o. 39. — 1889.] account of cbylon. 



283 



-were to be shown and four drummers were to be ordered to 

 beat the drums very hard, whilst the ships under sail should 

 come near the land as soon as possible. We others who were 

 on shore were to march on boldly, to make the Portuguese 

 believe that they were attacked by sea and land. Very pro- 

 bably on seeing all this they would make the retirato 

 towards Columbo and abandon Calutre. This plan succeeded, 

 and because they fancied themselves attacked in front and 

 behind, rather than see their passage cut off they left, and 

 we had the immense advantage of taking possession of the 

 fortress.* We got much ammunition, nine guns (big and 

 small, all of bronze), about 500 head of cattle, cows, oxen, pigs, 

 and chickens. The inhabitants who at once came under our 

 protection were all left safe and unmolested, but those who 

 were gone to the Portuguese, and were made prisoners after- 

 wards, were sold as slaves and distributed amongst us. A 

 Hamburger, of the name of Wittebol, and myself got a 

 woman, who for some time used to wait upon us and cook 

 for us. But one day when we were on guard, and were 

 waiting to have our meal brought by her, she did not turn up. 

 My comrade ran home to hurry her on, but found that she 

 had hanged herself in the middle of the room. 



The fortress of Calutre is very strong, and cannot be taken 

 by water, because on one side is the sea and on the other 

 the river, which comes from far inland, and from which a 

 new outlet has been made towards the sea, so that there is 

 water all round. On the land side are high hills, upon 

 which it is difficult to get ; and moreover, on this side there 

 are four bastions opposite each other, and protected with 

 thick, double palisades with points of iron ; there is only 

 one entrance, and round about a very high wall, so that you 

 •can see none of the houses inside. The Portuguese garrison 



* The Dutch did not however retain possession of Kalutara, as Saar 

 would lead one to suppose ; but abandoned it almost immediately, in order 

 to concentrate their forces at Negombo, which was threatened by the 

 Portuguese. (See Baldasus, Eng. trans., p. 788, and Ribeiro, bk. IL, 

 chap. XVIII.). 



