ISO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DB CEYLAN. 



571 



what is more vain than conquests, when the expenses exceed 

 the revenue, and to preserve them it is necessary to bleed 

 the State ; so that instead of enriching and making it greater 

 they drain and weaken it. It is also evident that there is 

 nothing more forlorn than the Royal Exchequer when it is 

 administered with cupidity instead of integrity : it is a death 

 blow to the kingdom whose rents have been squandered 

 instead of increased ; and if they fail, how can peace be 

 secured, how can war be sustained ? Ceylan suffered many 

 interruptions because of its distance from the king, and 

 because of the obstacles and hindrances placed in the way 

 by ministers, and the tricks they used in collecting the 

 rents of the property of princes ; for without it they would 

 be reduced to common subjects and to live without esteem 

 or respect, abandoned by friends, insulted by enemies, and 

 despised by all. Great was the consideration to be held in 

 esteem by such subjects, and there was not a place where 

 the zeal and fidelity could better be tested of a Christian 

 minister honoured and beloved by his king, as was our 

 General. 



War with Candia declared, nothing could surpass the obsti- 

 nacy and valour with which the Portuguese fought during 

 the two following years, [16] 28 and [16] 29, obtaining over 

 the idolater many famous victories after the most bloody 

 and terrible engagements, in which they appeared to be more 

 like wild beasts than men. For our men were possessed with 

 an overpowering thirst for vengeance, and the enemy were 

 driven to bay in defence of their lives and homes, so that 

 fury was the ruling spirit in all. They fought more like 

 borderers than conquerors, making no distinction of time 

 nor place, always unequal in numbers, but fired by the same 

 spirit of undying hatred. The continuation of this kind of 

 warfare considerably weakened our forces : they were so 

 reduced in numbers that they could not protect themselves, 

 even after the successes they had gained. But with the 

 peril increased the fame of the General, and encouraged 

 him to follow up his victories when the enemy believed 



97—93 L 



