NO. 41.— 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAK. 



547 



than to any other artificial means. For the natives give 

 all their time to the exercise of arms and military discipline, 

 in which they excel all the other infidels of the East. 

 They neglect and scorn to work in the gold and silver mines 

 thay have. This was encouraged by the king, who would not 

 permit any of his officers to benefit by them, so that they 

 might not be corrupted thereby ; and that their natures might 

 be hardened by continual warfare, he would not allow any 

 diversion or idleness in time of peace, but only in the freedom 

 of war : in which way it became one of the most perilous and 

 dangerous wars the kingdom of Spain was ever engaged in. 

 For the Zingalas of Candia, naturally callous of life, were 

 both valiant and sturdy, and by the continual use of arms 

 had become disciplined, and so proud and haughty that their 

 subjection might be compared to the Dutch rebellion ; and 

 what is more is, that they excelled them in activity, courage, 

 and endurance, considering their mode of warfare is so totally 

 different. For they know not the discipline of Europe, nor of 

 the numerous engines or stratagems invented by human malice ; 

 neither have they the writings which antiquity has bequeathed 

 to mortal beings as to how to take vengeance and how to 

 protect themselves against the hate and evil passions of their 

 enemies. But the impetus and fury they display in the face 

 of the greatest danger is due more to inborn courage than to 

 barbarism ; for they have no more defensive armour than 

 what nature has given them. As for offensive weapons 

 they are almost the same as in Europe : they use a kind of 

 artillery, which at present is the best and finest in the world, 

 for the curious and artful way in which they cast and turn 

 it out. The dexterous manner in which they handle the bow 

 and shoot their arrows is marvellous ; the arrows are poisoned 

 by rubbing certain herbs on them, so that the wounds they 

 inflict are deadly. Strange is the way also in which they 

 handle the pike, which is only seven palms in length, 

 whereas in Europe it is twenty-five. In fact they lack nothing 

 wherewith to kindle their animosity and natural ferocity 

 against us, whose cruel enemies they always were. 



