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



the confines of death and life, exposed to every hap-hazard, 

 fighting against the very elements. Roving about from one 

 peril into another they outdid the Romans, the Persians, and 

 the Greeks with all their innumerable armies, bearing with 

 equal patience both scorching heat and bitter cold, all the 

 inclemencies of climate ; they overcame both hunger and 

 thirst, toiling through all vicissitudes which war brings in its 

 wake. Nevertheless the Portuguese conquered all these ! 

 Never nation suffered so much in its navigations round the 

 world, in continual risk and peril, death always ready to 

 swallow up their uncertain lives, conquering barbarous 

 nations never seen or heard of before, discovering such 

 remote shores through seas never before navigated, such 

 little hope had they in their safety that when they returned 

 safe back to their homes they found a grave at their door- 

 steps, or foundered in port even when they had escaped 

 shipwreck.* 



A very true example of this short digression is that 

 which we have just related of the sufferings of Con- 

 stantino de Sa, and whose care and foresight alone there 

 is no doubt, considering what took place on board the 

 Almirante, was the saving of that vessel. He wintered in 



* Camoens, the great Portuguese poet, at the very beginning' of his noble 

 Lusiads, commences : — 



As Annas, e os Baroes ossinalados. 

 Que da Occidental praia Lusitana 

 Por mares nunca d'antes navegados, 

 Passaram ainda alem da Taprobana, 

 Emperigos e guerras esf orcados, 

 Mais do que promettia a f orca humana ; 

 E entre gente remota edificaram 

 Novo reino que tanto sublimaram. 



Translation. 

 The arms and illustrious heroes, 

 Who from the western Lusitanian strand, 

 O'er seas ne'er before crost, 

 Past e'en beyond the land of Taprobane, 

 Yaliant in perils and in battle post, 

 With more than to human force was pledged, 

 In regions far away amongst a distant race, 

 Rear'd a new kingdom they rendered so sublime. 



