No. 39.— 1889.] account of cbylon. 



307 



Our Commissary went round to all the ships and asked the 

 officers and men whether they would be willing to attempt a 

 landing the next morning, and all replied, " Yes, yes." On 

 the 14th of April morning prayers were said very early, and 

 every man got a big glass of wine, and we went with good 

 courage in small boats towards the shore. When we were 

 ashore we had either to fight or to die, for it was only then 

 that the Portuguese attacked us. Our guns, however, fired so 

 wellthat the Portuguese had many killed and wounded, and 

 had to withdraw towards their fortress. We followed until 

 the night fell, and then encamped at about half an hour's 

 distance. 



On the following day, the 15th, two of our mortars were 

 brought on shore, a small one and a big one, also two hun- 

 dred bombshells of one hundred and fifty and one hundred 

 and twenty pounds, and fifty of sixty pounds. We advanced 

 towards the suburb, constructed a good rampart, fortified two 

 monasteries to prevent the enemy's coming out, and then 

 began to fire our grenades, and at times stones, which took 

 great effect. On the fourth day they offered to surrender. 

 On the following day two hundred and fifty soldiers and 

 three hundred citizens marched out ; were at once taken on 

 board, and sent to Goa. We entered, and two hundred men 

 were immediately sent to the pearl bank, which is about 

 three miles distant, and estimated by the Hollanders at the 

 value of twenty tons of gold, to prevent the Portuguese from 

 spoiling it, as they have done to one ten miles from Manara. 

 The pearls are in shells, and are found under water. There 

 are natives especially for the purpose, who go down with a 

 long rope and a basket, and holding a sponge on one arm 

 thickly filled with oil, which they press firmly to the mouth 

 and nose. After they have found a number of pearls, and 

 can no longer stay under water, they give a sign by shaking 

 the rope, and those who stand in the boat near the windlass 

 watch carefully, quickly wind them up, when they empty 

 their basket. There is also a class of natives especially 



