NO. 41.-1890.] REBELION DB CEYLAN. 



491 



policy which gradually ruined them, and of very little use 

 to the Sovereign ; for although he still wanted to be served 

 by the same emulation, he impoverished his subjects : and 

 with poor vassals no king is powerful. 



Returning to Constantino de Sa. The first undertaking 

 he embarked in was in the summer of 1616, with Don 

 Bernardo de Norona, his kinsman and Captain-General of the 

 Malabar coast. He served in this expedition most satis- 

 factorily, never allowing his servants and comrades, who 

 were many, to receive public pay. On his return to Goa 

 Don Bernando informed the Viceroy of the valour and 

 ability of Constantino de Sa. He sent him with a galley and 

 ship to escort the Casila, a name given to the mercantile 

 squadron of the fortresses of Ganara ; and in the following 

 May he was sent to the north to fetch the Archbishop 

 Primate of Goa, whom he found lying ill : for that reason 

 he returned the same summer with two galleys. On his way 

 he bought two new ships of Bagain ; and passing over to 

 Cliaul, the Magistrate of that city of the Casila of Cambaia, 

 gave over to his charge twenty vessels which he had 

 anchored in that port ; because the Captain-General of the 

 north, in whose command they were, was not able to keep 

 them at the time for want of funds. His Majesty lost a 

 great deal of money by the detention of this fleet in tolls. 

 Constantino de Sa took over his charge without losing a 

 single vessel until he had delivered it over to the General 

 at Bagain. He conducted these expeditions with great zeal 

 and valour, and with such generosity that it did not cost the 

 king a single soldier ; and these soldados being the worst 

 kind of persons in the world to content, the company of 

 Constantino de Sa was so well provided and cared for, and 

 paid with such punctuality, that his men were loud in their 

 praises for the manner in which they were treated, usually 

 condemning the other captains for the difficulty they had 

 in pleasing them. The following winter he returned 

 to Goa, where he provided for ten noblemen and twelve 

 soldados ; and when the summer came round the Viceroy 

 97—93 F 



