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



In these admirable words it is well seen the obligation he 

 was under to place himself in such apparent danger, so as not 

 to sully his reputation nor give courage to the idolater : 

 having withdrawn only to gather strength and renew confi- 

 dence, and to procure better terms of peace, should it he 

 concluded. Never without his sword by his side, as an 

 experienced and great soldier should always be, he returned 

 to the fight with the same spirit and courage he commenced 

 the war. 



In the re-opening of this campaign the Portuguese suffered 

 great privations from the inclemency of the weather and the 

 bad roads, which tried their strength to the utmost. Being cold 

 and wet, as is usual in the kingdom of Candia and its confines, 

 the weather was so bad that many died of cold, and were 

 besides exposed to the sudden attacks of the enemy, who 

 laid ambuscades on every side. They were scarcely able 

 to defend themselves in the stagnant morasses and rivers 

 over which they waded up to their necks with the greatest 

 difficulty and fatigue : marching barefoot and almost naked, 

 they came out with their feet torn and lacerated, bitten 

 by leeches and other reptiles, which breed and swarm in 

 these waters. 



The General did not spare himself through all this danger- 

 ous expedition. He was always in front, for he left his 

 andor (a kind of light litter carried by men), which those in 

 authority use in travelling. He was the first to wade across 

 the rivers, so to encourage the rest, his companions, and to 

 dispel all fear from their hearts ; and came out usually 

 bitten all over by these poisonous reptiles. Thus throughout 

 it all he was for a long while in the greatest danger of losing 

 his life. 



Warfare in this Island, in the opinion of the most expe- 

 rienced in the art of war, is the most laborious in the world ; 

 for it is not practised according to the methods of Europe : 

 neither are the sieges, battles, and assaults carried on in the 

 same order, but with sudden onslaught and fury. The 

 companies are formed up without depth of numbers : their 



