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



He came to propose terms to the General if he would 

 concede the lands of Triquilamale, Batecalou, Pamniva, 

 and part of Balane, which that prince very much desired 

 and pretended to without any more right than that of 

 convenience and neighbourhood, remaining with these lands 

 lord over the greater part of the Island, with free trade and 

 entry to the northern enemies, his ancient confederates. 

 Don Nuno Alveres met these demands as a soldier, and 

 answered with caution to the conditions of peace which the 

 King of Candia proposed ; much more so when he saw that 

 the title alone was given as a dowry by the Emperors of Cota, 

 and placed us in possession of the coasts of Ovorocalava* 

 But at this time this conquest was not favourable to the 

 wishes of the Indian states, and badly off for both men and 

 money, more than ever necessary to Don Nuno Alveres, he 

 was compelled, rather than perish by their hands, to sign a 

 peace, declaring at the same time that it would only take 

 effect with the sanction of His Majesty, or that of the 

 Viceroy of India. 



This declaration appeared more to preserve the credit of 

 the General and a motive for a new war than any resolution to 

 finish the old one, for the peace was not only considered an 

 insult to the prestige of the Portuguese, but also detrimental 

 to the conquest, especially when it made the King of Kandy 

 more powerful. But considering what Socrates advised to 

 princes and subjects that they never should make bonds of 

 friendship nor alliance with any who were in the habit of 

 breaking them, that those alone are friends whose friendship 

 is useful, Don Nuno Alveres well understood that the 

 merest pretext would be sufficient to break down the peace. 

 He depended only on the authority of His Majesty for any 

 decisive action with them, and under this pretext he sheltered 

 himself from present danger, and whatever he might have 

 apparently lost he did not lose so very much after all to the 

 Crown, for the King of Candia remained its vassal with a 



* Nuwarakalaviya. — B., Hon. Sec. 



