NO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 537 



vain imaginations, Constantino de Sa used such, stratagem 

 that he foiled them without falling into the same error 

 himself ; for neither God nor men allow of falsehood in a 

 high minister who represents his sovereign. 



For these reasons, as if he already found himself surroun- 

 ded by the enemy, he considered that the whole defence 

 of the Island was in keeping up our fortresses. That of 

 Galle .being one of the principal, he went on with the forti- 

 fications until they were complete ; for he had suspended 

 them the year before for want of funds. He also saw the 

 dangerous pretensions of the King of Candia towards 

 Jafanapatan ; and fearing that it would be exposed to the 

 first outburst of the war which was sure to break out in that 

 part, to insure his entrance thereto he erected another 

 fortress in the island of Cardiva, which was subject to 

 Jafanapatan and a port of that kingdom. 



With equal forethought and care he built on the point called 

 St. Lawrence in the roadstead of Golumbo a strong curtain 

 of masonry and lime, eighty-six arms' lengths in circuit, and 

 demolished the old one it held. He mounted it with eleven 

 pieces of artillery ; and as the royal treasury was so exhausted 

 and so small that it could scarcely meet the pay and salaries 

 of the army, he availed himself of the lands and estates 

 belonging to the citizens of Columbo, who assisted him with 

 all the money he spent in that work with great zeal and 

 liberality. For it is true that nothing induces so much the 

 will of the people and vassals to serve the prince with their 

 own property as the belief in the necessity of his demands 

 and that he spends it in the public cause. Our General 

 knew how to bring them over to his requests by his courtesy 

 and gracious manners ; and as he justified his petitions with 

 the results of his work he never found the people unwilling. 



In their eyes there is nothing more pernicious than 

 money thrown away in useless expenditure or lavishly wasted ; 

 since when necessity and a just cause presents itself , they are 

 obliged to help by new impositions because of the want 

 produced by excess and abuse ; and such demands upon them 



