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



and the season was bad, the monsoon having changed, and 

 the winds become unfavourable for the navigation of the 

 straits. These things were all so necessary that without them 

 disaster was inevitable. But how can it be imagined that 

 such a scheme had been conceived in the mind of so honour- 

 able a Minister as Hernando de Alboquerque ? 



Failure and adversity in all undertakings meet with 

 reproof, more especially for those who govern, whose actions 

 the people tear to shreds in the animosity of their discourse^ 

 measuring them by the results of their success, and allowing 

 no other consideration. 



Although Constantino de Sa from the beginning had to 

 face such odds, he, nevertheless, undertook the expedition 

 in spite of them all, and obediently carried it out for the sake 

 of his reputation and for his king's service, in which he 

 exhibited such vigilance ; for they said, he was sunk and 

 lost until he met with the Portuguese who had marched out 

 of Ormuz, and left it in the hands of the enemy. When he 

 received this news he was at Mascate, a place belonging to 

 the kingdom of Ormuz, on the eastern coast of Arabia 

 Felix, and a favourable situation to repair in some way the 

 losses we had sustained. It was also like Ormuz in having 

 a harbour for the navigation and trade of those seas. 



Here Constantino de Sa found a half ruined fort, which he 

 repaired in the best manner he could; and after he had fortified 

 it and settled the trade and traffic to the detriment of that of 

 Ormuz, he returned to Goa, taking with him, amongst other 

 prisoners, the Captain of Ormuz, who was considered by some 

 guilty of the surrender. On the voyage he fully felt the 

 shame of his position, and to relieve his mind he reproached 

 his companions, who with equal bitterness accused the 

 Captain as the author of it all. Neither the patience or 

 consideration of Constantino de Sa could pacify them ; for it 

 appeared as if their hearts were like small vessels, so full of 

 shame that it poured forth out of their mouths. The General 

 had no other remedy, and with the advice of his counsellors 

 took away the Captain from the company with which he 



