540 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XI. 



Amongst these were the Portuguese Disawas, who not only 

 consented to such abuses, but in time of war held on their own 

 account, in the midst of their camps, public markets, which 

 the Zing alas called bangagais, where they sold their 

 merchandise, first monopolising at great prices, a thing 

 unworthy of Christians and soldiers, and still more blame- 

 worthy in Portuguese, considering the sober modesty, 

 disinterestedness, and valour with which their forefathers 

 began these conquests. 



All this is gathered from a treatise by a Jesuit monk which 

 came into my hands, to whose person and cloth no little credit 

 is due. It was written in Geylan in the year 1514.* 



But that zeal of religion which comes from firm belief and 

 faith was so ardent in Constantino de Sa's breast, that he 

 detested these disorders and vices which cost him such 

 trouble to reform ; for they had been allowed so much licence 

 that they had made them a custom and law : and when vice 

 steps in and takes the place of virtue, it is the greatest curse 

 that can befall a State. But the uprightness with which 

 he went about this work enabled him to do a great deal, a 

 great many abuses were gradually removed, and Geylan 

 arrived at the condition we have said. 



The great integrity of his disinterestedness and the 

 anxiety with which he watched the growth of that conquest 

 obliged him by this time to introduce new measures for the 

 administration of the royal treasury. 



The antiquated practice introduced by the government of 

 Don Juan de Castro was in existence. King John III. 

 had placed in all his fortresses and conquered provinces 

 Veedores de hazienda, which they administered independently 

 of the Generals and Captains. This practice had its incon- 

 veniences, and more so in our land, for the rents of the fisc 

 were very limited, and not equal to the expenditure, The 

 post of the Generals and Governors was so despotic that it en- 

 joyed more power sometimes than their King. But they had 



* The very name of the work and oil its author remain unknown. — B., 

 Hon. Sec, 



