No. 39.— 1889.] account op ceylon. 



289 



in two months a large fleet of sixteen ships would arrive 

 with troops under a new General from Holland ; his name 

 was Gerhard Hulfft, a native of Amsterdam, where he had 

 been Secretary of the Town, and it was said that the fleet 

 was to sail towards Goa and watch the Portuguese, fleet. 

 This news was spread on purpose that the Portuguese should 

 not know that the fleet had arrived, and should feel safe in 

 Columbo, upon which the real attack was planned. The 

 Portuguese knew that for three or four years no troops had 

 been brought over from Batavia, and they were convinced 

 that England and Holland were still at open war ; they also 

 bragged a good deal and made a great fuss and wanted to 

 besiege the fortress of Negumbo. This, however, we pre- 

 vented, and sent sixty men to strengthen the garrison. 



On the 9th of April a fleet was seen off Negumbo, but it 

 was uncertain whether it was ours or the English, because 

 no flags were hoisted and the ships kept well out to sea. 

 The plan of our General, however, was, since Columbo was 

 only five miles distant from Negumbo, to land during the 

 night, and in secrecy cut off the Portuguese who besieged 

 Negumbo from the land side, and prevent them from getting 

 to Columbo. Then it was intended that the King of Candi 

 should come from the other side ; that the enemy should be 

 taken between the two forces ; and that thus the town of 

 Columbo should be conquered with all the more ease. 



The plan, however, was frustrated. As soon as we were 

 on the way it began to rain heavily, and continued to do so 

 for two whole days. Our victuals and ammunition got wet ; 

 the newly-arrived troops, who had been two months under 

 sail, and had become quite stiff, because, on account of their 

 number and great quantity of artillery, they had hardly been 

 able to move about on board, could not advance, and had to 

 stop on the road. We had all to withdraw to Negumbo, and 

 to allow the Portuguese to reach Columbo with ease, and 

 without losing a single man. They did not, however, find 

 out that we had an eye upon the town, but were of opinion 

 that we only tried to have the upper hand in the field. 



