NO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAX. 



493- 



entrances with sand for a considerable distance, as we shall 

 say more about further on. Constantino de Sa not only 

 offered to face the danger himself, but undertook that every 

 soldier who accompanied him at his own expense should 

 come out of it with honour. 



The Viceroy was persuaded after so many proofs to appoint 

 him to the most onerous posts of the state. He chose him 

 to command the relief expedition to Baliporto, composed of 

 two pinnaces (pataxes) and five galeots ; but as in war all is 

 accident and continual change, it came to nothing : as was 

 also the expedition of Currate which averted the reliefs with 

 which the Viceroy had arranged to come in person. 



It afterwards being spread abroad that the Calvinists 

 (Hollanders), in league with the Persians, had gone with that 

 last power to besiege Ormuz, the Viceroy and his council 

 resolved, that in consideration of the importance of the place 

 and of the expedition, to send twelve ships with four hun- 

 dred Portuguese, so as to reinforce the garrison before the 

 place was surrounded by the enemy ; and they decided upon 

 Constantino de Sa as a person upon whose shoulders such 

 a heavy charge could be safely placed, and whose valour and 

 experience they could trust : after this report came another 

 which denied the first, so that the reliefs were postponed. 



With this news arrived D. Francisco Coutinho Conde 

 del Redondo as successor to the Viceroy Don Jeronimo de 

 Azevedo. Don Jeronimo was a native of Beyra, of noble 

 extraction, and of an accomplished family. He had gone when 

 quite young to India, serving first as a private soldier, with 

 very little assistance from his parents, and by his own merits 

 gradually rose to be Governor of the Island of Ceylan, and 

 from that post to the superior grade of Viceroy of India, 

 where he served the State's interests better than he did his 

 own ; for having to compete against the general opinion of 

 being a rich man, he gained when he was young the good 

 fortune which he deserved when he became old, being at 

 that time spoken of as avaricious. He comported himself 

 with great wisdom and circumspection ; but in reward for 



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