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



ultimately threw off the mask by the reception he gave and 

 the favour he showed the Moors: thus affairs became so 

 strained that war appeared compulsory to us. 



But before we follow it up, it is proper that we should say 

 something about the claims the Crown of Portugal had to 

 Candia, and why it undertook the conquest of that kingdom ; 

 also about the wickedness, treachery, and perfidiousness of 

 its princes, its orgin, and the beginning of one of the most 

 obstinate wars we have ever undertaken in the East, and in 

 whose prosecution our General gloriously fell and ended his 

 life. 



The kingdom of Candia, which the natives call Candauda* 

 signifying "highlands," is surrounded by impenetrable masses 

 of mountain range, which serve it as a wall and defence. 

 It is situated in the centre of the Island, which is the most 

 rugged and loftiest part, so that all the passes leading thereto 

 are most difficult of access, more especially those from Columbo, 

 owing to the precipices and perpendicular rocks which shut 

 it in, as if the very land itself vented its hatred against the 

 Portuguese and gave security to its treacherous inhabitants. 

 Although they keep to the country within this mountain 

 circle, which forms the heart as it were of Ceylan, they have 

 nevertheless outlets to the sea by the ports of Paniva andCotiar. 



The kingdom of Candia is the largest in the Island, 

 and as thickly populated as the Provinces of Old Castile and 

 the Asturias are in Spain ; but the Hollanders were mistaken 

 when they made it out to be so large and powerful a country, 

 and gave out that there were fourteen tributary kings in it, 

 for only those of Batecalou and Triquilimale were at one 

 time tributary. The land is fertile, the climate varied, 

 the people warlike, and so given up to military service that 

 they easily forsake the cultivation of the fields, which are so 

 productive that they produce the finest fruits in the world in 

 great abundance ; but they owe more to nature's beneficence 



* Cf. Knox Qoc. eit., p. 2) : — -'in one word Conde Uda, which signifies 

 On top of the Hills, and the king is styled the king of Conde Uda." [Sin.. 

 ka?idu uda.] — B., Hon. Sec. 



