332 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XI. 



their Colonel Andrea Villossa. The soldiers and burghers 

 left the place, and were sent by us to Goa. The fortress, 

 which was called St. George by the Portuguese, has since 

 been fortified by us with a proper moat, walls, and 

 batteries. 



The little fort of Keis, or Hammenhiel, on the way to Jaffana- 

 patnam, lying in the strait between the Islands, was also at 

 this time taken by the Netherlander from the Portuguese. 



The town and famous fortress of Jaffanapatnam, lying 

 about forty-eight miles north-east of Columbo, is situated in a 

 delightful and fertile country, and was in June, 1658, humbly 

 delivered over to the Honourable Company under the com- 

 mand of Heer van Goens. After the conquest of Manaer, we 

 proceeded to Jaffanapatnam, landed our men successfully, 

 two or three hundred at a time, and marched them towards 

 the town and fortress. On pain of death it was forbidden 

 to insult the natives (Indianen), especially as we had been 

 received and welcomed in a friendly manner by the Cinga- 

 lese, the inhabitants of the country. The Portuguese (who 

 had been living in this beautiful country like princes, counts, 

 and great fidalgos) now fled with their wives and children, 

 and any goods they could most readily lay their hands on, to 

 the fortress. They had also many nice buildings in the 

 town, which was not walled round and lay wholly open : this 

 too was abandoned by the enemy, who fled quickly to the 

 fortress. It was very large and fully manned, and being 

 surrounded with moats and high triple walls, both strong 

 and secure, to storm it with a small handful of men was 

 not advisable, whilst a bombardment of the lofty stone walls 

 so thick and strong would have been quite useless ; and 

 accordingly great mortars, grenades, and bombs were brought 

 into the camp with all despatch. Tombstones and many 

 bluish stones* were broken up, and the enemy in Jaffana- 

 patnam therewith so roughly battered that they soon lost 

 courage to sally out and meet us face to face, or offer the 



* Coral stones ? — D. W. F. 



