564 



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



[Vol. XI. 



October at the latest, for at that time ships came from Cochin 

 to Goa and Columbo, and with the same wind the vessels 

 could sail, and much easier, for about Cape Com or in the wind 

 blew more away from the land. They had besides these 

 advantages other very good reasons why they should make 

 it the metropolis of India, for in climate, fertility, and 

 healthiness there was not its equal anywhere. Belonging 

 moreover to one master only, whose property they pretended 

 brought in more than a million every year, but in these 

 times not exceeding more nor less than a hundred and three 

 thousand xarafins, and would load with cinnamon, pepper, 

 and many other dyes, drugs, and merchandise the vessels of 

 the kingdom, and eight times less distance of coast for them 

 to make. It had also quantities of timber, iron, and all the 

 necessary materials for the building of ships, with large 

 harbours and wide roomy bays, and even if Nature was 

 left unaided by art in the cultivation of the fields by the long 

 wars which were enough to destroy the best of countries, 

 such was the abundance it produced naturally that there 

 was no richer land, nor one more full of the luxury and 

 abundance of the goods of this world. 



They discussed with many forcible arguments the many 

 times that Viceroys of India, holding the supreme power of 

 the State, passed over to the Island for far less cause ; 

 since there was the Governor Lope Soares de Albergaria, 

 who came only to lay the foundations of Columbo, and 

 afterwards Don Constantino de Braganca and Don Alonso 

 de Noroiia, who, after the assault on Jafanapatan, came to 

 the help of the King of Co ta against M adune; and again, 

 Martin Alonso de Sosa, Antonio Moniz Barreto, Don Jorge 

 de Menezes el Baroche, Andre Hurtado de Mendoca, Pedro 

 Lopes de Sosa, and many other Captains and Generals, who 

 raised powerful armies simply for light affairs of commerce 

 or revenge, or to obtain satisfaction for some friendly prince 

 or ally in the Island. It was most proper that His Majesty 

 should listen and give the necessary forces to obtain satis- 

 faction for the many treasons that the barbarian of Candid 



