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



all his services he died a prisoner in Lisbon Castle, apparently 

 as an offender for the many misdeeds which his numerous 

 enemies had laid to his charge : by which it was reasoned that 

 his death was the usual reward that princes gave to those to 

 whom they are most indebted. 



The Count de Redondo began his Government in the year 

 1618. The first thing he did was to look into the affairs of 

 Ceylan, which at that time were in a wretched condition, 

 and the king, in receiving his report, ordered the Count to sot 

 them to right with the assistance of some worthy and 

 renowned subject, whom he left to his own choice. The 

 Count-Viceroy and his Council of State, with the unanimous 

 consent of all, nominated Constantino de Sa to be Governor 

 and Captain-General of that Island, which was the second 

 post of honour in India, and the stepping-stone to the first 

 post of all ; and what made it most desirable to the ambitious 

 for honour and glory was the fierce war that raged there 

 with the most courageous and warlike princes of the East : 

 for this reason there was no nobleman who had not a claim 

 of being a soldier who did not offer himself for this post. 

 But, considering the dangers which surrounded it, the Viceroy 

 gave it to Constantino de Sa, for no other reason than for 

 his name and known virtues ; by which decision there were 

 not wanting many rivals, who in their envy accused the 

 Viceroy of precipitation in his choice, since he had super- 

 seded so many older noblemen of longer service : but with 

 all their merits and long service he equalled them all, so 

 their murmuring was soon silenced, and Constantino de Sa 

 left for Geylan. 



That post was governed at the time by Don Nuiio A Wares 

 Pereira, already mentioned, who being appointed to the 

 charge of discovering and opening up the rivers of the 

 Cuama* gave over the Island to Constantino de Sa without 

 a murmur. 



* The Cuama, better known as the Zambesi river, the largest in East 

 Africa. 



