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



The erection of the fortress at Trincomalee in 1624 was 

 undertaken by order of the Viceroy and at the advice of the 

 Governor's oldest and most experienced captains, with a 

 view to blocking the Kandyan monarch's outlet on the east 

 coast. This step naturally incensed the king, and it also 

 enraged his Hindu subjects, whose temple, standing on the 

 eminence where the fortress was built, was thus profaned. 

 Details are given of the various measures adopted by the 

 Governor to strengthen the Portuguese position, offices of 

 trust being bestowed with impartiality on the worthiest, 

 whether European or Asiatic, the General himself setting a 

 good example by his temperate life and unassuming manner. 

 The chapter ends with the close of the year 1624. 



In chapter IX. we are told of further " Acts of the govern- 

 ment of Constantino de Sa, he fortifies the fortress of Gale, 

 erects one on the Island of Gar diva, repairs that of Golumbo, 

 and carries out other works of great importance ; reforms 

 abases, corruption, and vices, and makes new regulations for 

 the administration of the royal treasury." 



The year 1625 was a peaceful one on the whole, though the 

 Portuguese soldiers' arms were not allowed to rust for want of 

 use. Besides finishing the fortification of Galle (which had 

 been suspended owing to want of funds) and erecting a 

 fortress on Karaittivu, the Governor "built on the point called 

 San Lourenco, in the bay of Golumbo, a strong curtain of stone 

 and lime, eighty-six arm's lengths in circuit, and demolished 

 the old one that was there ; he mounted it with eleven pieces 

 of artillery ; and as the royal treasury was so exhausted and 

 so small that it could scarcely meet the pay and salaries of 

 the army, he availed himself of the lands belonging to the 

 citizens of Golumbo, who assisted him with all the money he 

 spent in that work with great zeal and liberality." Again: 

 " With the moneys he received he made another curtain of 

 thirty arm's lengths, as necessary as the first, and with all 

 these works he so insured the defence of the Day of Golumbo 

 that there was no opening without protection for the ships 

 that anchored in that port." He also " built a powder-mill, 

 which was worked by the water of the lagoon which 

 surrounds the city, and turned out five arrobas a day." This 

 work he paid for out of his own salary. Instances are given 

 of the abuses which Constantino de Saset himself to reform ; 

 and it is stated that there were Portuguese so unpatriotic as 

 to make money by importing arms to sell to the Kandyans. 



Chapter X. tells us how " Constantino de Sa expels the 

 Moors from the friendly parts of Geylan," and gives a 

 " Description of the Kingdom of Candia, origin of its 

 Princes, and the claim under which the Portuguese under- 

 took its conquest." 



