NO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DB CEYLAN. 



543 



CHAPTER X. 



Constantino de Sa expels the Moors from the 

 friendly parts of ceylan. description of the 

 Kingdom of Candia. Origin of its Princes, and 

 the claim the portuguese had for undertaking 

 its Conquest. 



Most fortunate is the prince who in time of peace and war 

 employs successful ministers, for such men often change 

 errors into successes. Contrary to all India's expectations, 

 when a thousand evils were foretold of this resolution, the 

 year 1626 had already begun when Constantino de Sa suc- 

 cessfully brought about the expulsion of the Moors from 

 Geylan and its neighbourhood. Christianity called for it, and 

 it was executed with courage and prudence, making wonder- 

 ful not only the good effect, but dispersing the vain fears 

 spread about by politicians, who always prefer profitable to 

 religious affairs. 



His Catholic Majesty Philip IV., inheriting with the 

 Empire the Christian zeal and holy piety of his religious 

 father, in order to imitate him and his forefather King 

 Don Ferdinand, whose works gave him the name of " the 

 Catholic " (as Ginebrardo testifies), at this time ordered 

 the expulsion of the Moors from Ceylan, knowing how 

 pernicious was their intercourse with the idolatrous islanders, 

 and how they impeded their conversion ; for this evil had 

 more weight with His Majesty than all the pretexts that 

 could be brought against it. 



For upwards of 130 years before our arrival in India, this 

 infernal sect of their perfidious Muhammad was scattered 

 throughout the East by the Moors, Persians, and Eumes, 

 who with other merchandise from their lands, and with 

 money that the devil had supplied them with, had got to 

 have such hold over this blind people, that there was scarcely 

 a part , of the land which was not infected by this evil 



