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



against each other with wooden swords covered with leather, 

 on the fifth they made forced marches as on the first day, 

 and in this manner he soon instructed them how to march, 

 fight, retire, and all the rules of strategy and the tactics of 

 the art of war. It was by first instructing, and afterwards 

 making them carry out what he had taught, that Hannibal 

 came to overthrow so many Consuls ; and by these means also 

 Xantippus, the Lacedemonian, triumphed over the Roman 

 eagles : that is why Vegetius* wishes that a soldier should 

 know his drill in all its arts and precepts before he buckles 

 on his belt and places his lance in rest. This is what the 

 Romans taught once a day to the old soldiers, and twice a 

 day to the raw recruits, in which way they acquired all the 

 theory during peace, and great practical experience during 

 war. 



Having settled the affairs of the army, he [Constantino 

 de Sa] now commenced to find out the disposition the 

 forces and the general inclination of the princes of the 

 Island ; using great discretion and secrecy, sending out 

 spies and secret emissaries, who were well paid beforehand and 

 encouraged by further promises. He had thus assistants on 

 his side to watch their actions, so that he was kept informed of 

 all their designs, a very necessary thing for those who 

 governed the provinces. He also strengthened the forts and 

 garrisons, inspecting all he could personally, and reinforcing 

 them with men, provisions, and munitions of war, of which 

 they were sorely in need. All these preparations made them 

 ready for any war they might fear against the King of Candid r 

 and much more when the General caused a general muster 

 to be made of all the carines and pachas capable of bearing 

 arms, dividing them into regiments amongst the subject 

 provinces, and along the frontier, and turning them into the 

 ordinary militia, which was spread over the Island and never 

 far away from the Governor. It was a most important thing 

 that in the event of any sudden or unseen accident to have the 



Vegetius, a Latin writer, 386 B.C., wrote a " Treatise on the Military 

 Art" {Re Militari). 



