504 



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



show a bold front. He occupied the passes and entrances from 

 the base of the mountains to within six leagues, with well- 

 manned strongholds placed at intervals up to the walls of 

 the new settlement. 



The General, fully aware of all that was going on, made 

 a long detour by forced marches, so as to avoid the advanced 

 forts, and not waste in their assault and capture the force 

 and courage of his men. Trusting to determination and 

 speed, which is the origin of success in war, he did not 

 hesitate to march through the lands subject to the enemy, 

 laying them waste, to strike terror and make an example to 

 the rebels. He succeeded after much toilsome marching in 

 climbing up the steep mountain sides, but found the inhabit- 

 ants gone. Madune had fled, conquered by fear before he 

 had measured swords with our men, whose fury was glutted 

 on the deserted settlement, which they found completely 

 dismantled of all property and treasure the tyrant may have 

 had ; for he had time to save all, together with his followers, 

 burying everything of value underground. On the other 

 side our lascarins having gorged themselves with the 

 remains of food and drink they had left, commenced to 

 show symptoms of smallpox, a common disease of the Island, 

 which is often engendered by these excesses, and being as 

 contagious as the plague, it soon spread to our army. 



The General, more for prudence' sake than any fear of such 

 an unforeseen misfortune, decided on returning to Sofragan, 

 but it was not much to his safety, if Madune, when he 

 heard of what had happened to him, had sallied out with 

 the whole of his followers and cut him off from our camp ; 

 because, owing to the number of the sick, our line of march 

 was long and straggling, with great gaps at intervals, and in 

 some disorder, so that many of our men who lagged behind 

 were cut down that day : and with this success Madune was 

 proud as if he had been a conqueror. 



Constantino de Sa seeing the great danger he was in, with 

 great promptitude ordered the Captain Luis Teixeira to 

 advance with one hundred Portuguese and place himself in 



