NO. 41—1890.] REBELION DB CEYLAN. 



467 



At the death of Manuel Homen, his post was filled 

 by Don Nuno Alveres Pereira, second son of the Count 

 de la Feyra, of many and illustrious services. 



Now, at this time the great part of the Island was in open 

 rebellion, following the summons of Madune, descendant of 

 the old one, who, as native Prince, drew over to him almost 

 all the Zingalas, and principally two famous rebels, whose 

 names were Cangarache and Barreto. They at one time 

 were faithful to the Portuguese, but afterwards, being 

 convicted of high treason against the Divine and human 

 Majesty, were forced into an alliance with Madune, more 

 for their own selfish interests than for any patriotic cause ; 

 but using that name as a subterfuge to remove the suscepti- 

 bilities of the Zingalas, they remained ready to help them 

 in their need. 



Don Nuno Alveres worked hard to pacify the Island, using 

 milder remedies than what the disease called for, infidelity 

 being at the root, the most contagious disease that could 

 happen to the republic ; it appeared impossible to cure it 

 other than by drastic measures, and as he did not use them, 

 he did nothing more but superficially heal it, leaving the 

 souls in the same diseased state as he found them, that it 

 may be said although he ended the war, he did not obtain 

 peace ; for within the Island there remained the smouldering 

 fires of discord, the rebels proud, powerful, and rich, with great 

 retinues and numbers of followers, and the King of Gandia, 

 not like a barbarian, but making the best of the occasion, and 

 fully aware of the opportunity he had of extending his 

 territories, seeing the straits Don Nuno Alveres was in, and 

 that it offered him peaceful means of getting advantages, 

 which he could not get otherwise than by victorious arms. 

 Like Sertorious, as Plutarch relates, when at the lowest ebb 

 of fortune, showed himself more unyielding, prouder, and 

 more active than ever, he refused the easy terms of peace 

 which the triumphant Romans offered him, and would have 

 nothing less than the restoration of his country. 



